Fulton Aug 22 1861
		   Dear Brother
		              I have
     jest got time to set down
to write to you & it is most
dark I have been washing all
day & am verry tired I supose
you have to do your own washing
how I wish I were there to wash
for you I am verry sorry to hear
of your poor health but I hope
it may be better when we hear
from you a gain James started this
morning for the war I supose you
will see him if he comes there which
he expects to do I received two
letters from you last this week Albert
& [illegible] & Mrs Burch & Mary Cronkite
are all sick it is verry sickley
around here but there has been no

deaths. Octavia sits here a talking
to me & I can hardly think
of any thing. We received your
likeness & I was glad to get it
I asure you. I guess that we have got
all the papers you have sent Mother
has had a letter from Sam since he
		                                          officers
got home he gives the [crossed out] [soldiers] ^ all
sorts. & besides they were mustared out
of service without their pay & dont 
know where to look for it. He
come a cross Charles on Boston
comon & sent home with him &
staid all night he says that Charles
has got a nice little woman.
	Well dont you believe that
Mr Eldred has sold his poneys &
wagon & harness for 231$ I supose
they feel good about it Well I cant
write any more now for I must write
to Harriet to night. Well I will
finish this morning. I heard

	Octavia say that she would not
   write to you not untill you
received her last letter & she
gets an answer. Mother says I
can write all that is nesecery
she wont write. she sends her
love to you & the rest of the boys
& she says you must be good
children. & that you must try
& get well. & why dont they send
you home if you are sick. Thomas
& Algers sends their love to you &
the rest of the boys & they are well
& hope you are the same & they
say they would like to see you
Well I shall have to close.
write soon from your Sister
		Diantha D
	Give my love to the boys
   Mother says you must be careful
what you write a bout the officers for
you may get punished. Uncle Albert

[Written on right side of Scan 3]

says [illegible] if they get hold of the letter remember

[End]