Camp Near Cedar Creek
                                                 Oct 30 1864
Dear Sister
     I Have neglected to write
to you I have been so buisey lately
that I could get no time to write
to any boddy Lately I will try and
write oftener hereafter I think
I will get a furlough in about
a month and then I will come
home and see mamma and
if I have time I will come out
to michigan.
we have had some hard fighting
here lately and came out first Best
and I think we drove the Rebs
so far that they wont be back
again this fall if they do they
will find us ready for them we
are in camp and I think we
will stay here all winter if the
Rebs dont drive us away it is
a nice place for camping close
by a nice cool spring large
enough to furnish watter for half
of the army but wood is scarce

and we have to Draw rations from
martinsburgh some thirty miles 
I am at Brigade Head Quarters with my
company doing Pioneer duty for the
Brigade and have rather easy times
just now for I have a Horse to
ride when on the march
Kate why dont some of Bills folks
write I have not heard from
them since I have been in
the Army. I had a letter from Mag
and Ell Crowell the other day their
folks were well and said that sister
Ell was well I wrote to Mag yesterday
but have not had a chance to send
the letter off yet their is a mail
going to morrow from here so I will
send them all off together
I am going to send you a
fotograph in this letter and want
you to answer it as soon as you
get it and let me know if
my commision was in the last letter
you got I forgot what letter I
put it in and remember me
to Mrs Vantyle Mrs Harman and
all the rest of the folks Give my
love to the children and tell


Jane she must write me another
letter soon
                From Your Brother
                           Jim
                            to
                           Kate
Direct
H Q 3 Brigade
1st Division
19th Army Corps
                 Washington D C
                          or Elsewhere