Goldsboro N.C.   March 24th /65

	            Dear Parents it
is with pleasure that I
embrace this opportunity
of informing you of my
health. I am well and
hope these few lines will
find you enjoying the
same blessing. we have
marched but one day
since I wrote to you bfore
and this is the third day we
have been in camp.
Just imagine if you can
a clearing of four or five
Hundred acres covered with
tents and covered with
[yankees?] & surroundid
on three sides by a pine
forest and on the other

side by the river and
you have our encampment
: I have just returned from
the encampment of the 
fourteenth Mich. and s
I spent the forenoon over
there with Dexter. he is
well and hearty. he showed
me a likeness of [Morts?] and
[Cinds?] and I was surprised
to see. how Mort had changed
I should not have known her
if I had met her in the
street: How large is Fanny.
let her write to me in your
next letter. how old is willie.
tell Him to be a good Boy and
mind his ma and Pa:
   tell Ellen to write to me
   as soon as she can
how is Hank and Minnie
I have just heard that
little Hirum Lovejoy has


the Farm that Caleb
    used to own. where has
    Caleb went to when
 you write tell me.
as I should like to know has
Ell got a beaux yet or not
when you write tell me
I saw [Tozer?] Shellman to
day and he is the dirtiest fellow
I ever set my eyes on.
he has a verry heavy pair of
whiskers and looks like a fright
it is the rumor that we are
going back to Kinston to garison
the place until Sherman
gets ready to start on a
summers campaign
and that will not be much
under a month but no telling
there are so many rumors
afloat. that a man cant
believe over half he hears.
but in all probability we shall


march in the morning
write soon and tell me
all the news. nomore
at present I remain
now as ever your affectionate
Son  Israel G. Atkins

	Good Bie

	Israel
	    G
	Atkins

	Atkins
          Atkins
     Atkins
     Israel. G. Atkins 
       Atkins