Camp near Bell Plain

May 22 1863

 

Dear Parents I now seat my self to pen a few lines to let you no that I am well and hope thes few lines will find you thee same to And to let you no that I got your letter last night withe 10 dolars in it to Was glad to get the money but dont think I shall want eney more for a good while probly not till we air paid of again and then I shall send home 32 or 48 dolars Well we air having agood time for aspell now but dont no how long we may havit only very hot / and dusty to for we haint eney rain sence the fight and there iron hail rained pirty thick I thoght and I think that I am a good judge of sech stuff for I have had a good chance to see som for the last 20 months dont you think so som think that the war will be seteled in less than 3 months but I dont do you Well iam glad to hear that the colts air doing well and I think that by next winter they will big enough to wourk so they can pay ther keeping dont you Well I should like to no what you air doing this sumer for a living and if you have got eney thing / planted or not And where you live or a gointo live &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. &c.and and and all of the news

 

James McGibbins is well and John Naylor all so and they send ther love to all Well I dont think of much more to right now only take good care of the chrlden Dress them well out of my money and have them go to school to let me no hao keeps school up ther if you pleas to in both distrects jest give my love to C. M. Johnson and famly to tell them to right to / to me So good By for this time

 

                                                            Right Soon

 

                                                            John W

                                                                        Pitridge

                                                            Love to all

 

                                                            Good By

 

kiss

Mandy

For me

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