Raleigh  May 2d 1865

		Dear Parents. it
is with, pleasure that I
seat myself, this morning
to talk a little with you.
and let you know, how I get
along. I am as well as common
with the exceptions of a cold.
I am with our Division train
at the present time and am
agoing to see my time out with
it if it is a posible thing. We are
having pretty good times now
we expect to move next week
for Danville on the Virginia and
NC line. I have four months
from the eleventh or twelfth
of this. I have just heard
that James Crandell has
inlisted how is it. I seen Dick

day before yesterday and he
was well. Dick is getting quite 
a beard, and begins to look like
a man. I recieved a letter from
Hank, three or four Days ago
and I answered it yesterday
he said old molly had breathed
her last what did he mean.
And he also said that Pa had
traded [illegible] off to Charly
lovejoy is the horse broke that
you traded for have you got
your garden made yet
when you write tell me all
the news genraly speaking.
have you got in your corn
yet. tell Fanny that I got her
letter three or four weeks ago
and was verry glad to hear from
her. and I will answer it the
next time I write.
tell Willie to be a good Boy

and mind pa and ma
and kiss him and Hellen for
Illy. tell Grandma that I
would like to see her and uncle
alberts & Malcolms folks verry
much indeed.
the last letter I got from
pa. said now Ill dont 
Marry till you see Brewers Girl
who under the sun did he
think I would marry I should
like to know surely not one of
these snuff chewing southern
[Ladies?]. no I guess there is not any
danger of that. and I do not
intend to get me a wife untill
I have a house to keep her in
and a good trade to support her
with so you need not fret about
that, write often and regular
my love to all. I remain as ever your
Affectionate Son Israel. G. Atkins
		Good Bie