Camp near Orrang C.H. Va.

     Oct 3^rd 1863

 

Dear Pa                                                                                          

                        Yours of the 25^th came to hand day before yestarday and I now seat myself to reply I was very glad to receive your letter it being the second I have received since I left home although I have written many I was glad to learn that you were all well & I am also glad to inform you that I am tolerably well at this time & doing as well as usual

 

            Pa there is no news of interest in this country more than you have heard the health of our army is tolerably good at this time and this army is in better spirits than it has been since it came back from Pennsylvania and I think they would fight better than ever 

 

Pa I have seen one man shot since I have been here and there will be another shot in our Brggade on the 5^th inst for deserting. There has ben as many as ten shot in one brggade at one time since I have been here and 8 in another and 7 in another all for deserting you saw the sight once at Centerville when those 2 La were shot it is an awful sight but nevertheless it must be so

 

            Pa I have been in the same mess with the Capt all the time & have not been on drill a single time yet nor have not been required to do any duty but one time and that was to take a detail and dig sinks but I have / been with the Regt on Picket twice Pa I have been promoted to sergt since I have been here I was promoted so that I might get the place of Ordinance Sergt for the Regt & my name has been sent up for that place and will [faded] in a few days I recon & I have a petty shure chance for the office which if I get will be much better than being in the Company for I will get 21 dollars per month and be out of danger almost entirely as I will have to be with the waggon in the time of an engagement & can stay either in the Company or with the waggon all the rest of the time

 

            Pa I recon you had better send me all the things I first wrote for as it is rather doubtful about drawing enough to do me / have me a coat a pr Pants 2 shirts 2 or 3 pr socks & a pr shoes and tell Nat to look in my trunk and get out my yarn shirts have them mended & sent to me and also if he can to send me a bottle of honey & some apples onions &c &c

 

            I will cose by asking you to write to me soon and often and tell the boys they must write Give my love to all the family & all my friends & write soon to your Son &c

J K P[?]

 

P.S. Tell Mr Wagner Mr [?] and [?] that I have written to them my last time till I get an answer from them &c       

                          

Your Son

JKP

 

Direct as before

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