My Dear Father & Mother

I received Roberts letter the 10^th and you do not know how good it made me feel I was on guard at the time in the prison I was right in among them and I tell you I had to keep a sharp lookout for two of our company was put in the guard house for not tending to their business we have to be very particular here for the rebels take evry chance to escape we are instructed to shoot down any and evry one that crosses our beat. I hope when you get this my dear sister Sarah will be well I was very sorry to heare that Mother and William was sick there are 14 of our regement in the / Hospital I am enjoying very good health you must tell Robert to write to me often and tell me all the news and let me know how many letters you have got from me

 

I have wrote to Grandmother once since I have been out here and I will write soon again. there are very large Hospitals there and there are about 1500 sick & wounded there are about 8 buried on an average evry day they are from Gen Butler & Grants army. We all like this place first rate. When Robert or william writes they must tell me all that is going on in the shop. Robert wanted to know why I sent home my new uniform well I thought the old one would do me the 100 days / and I thought would have the new one to walk around when I get home if God spares me. while I am writing they are making out extra details for a patrole and I expect they are expecting that the prisoners are a going to try to get out but they will get the worst of it for we are ready for them the rebels do not like our regement and the negros as well as they do the old veterans for they say we are more particular. I let one feel the point of my bayonet yesterday for being saucy. I have no more news at present tell Robert I received the paper he sent me and I will read it between drill times for we have to come up to the scratch in drill. the next letter you send me let Mary / and all write a little and tell me all the news about our little Church and all you can scratch up  No more at present

 

            from your affect Son

                        James M^cKinney

                                    Point Lookout

                                                Md

 

please send me some Postage

stamps for the other letter

came safe

                        John & Bob are well

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