1863

	March 27th Bowling Green
		My verry Dear
      Ma and Pa it is with
pleasure that I take my
pen to inform you of
my health. I am on
the gain and I hope these
few lines may find you
enjoying good health.
have you got the 8$ yet
or not. did you send me
the box I have recieved no 
letters from you in over
a week and have writen you
three in that time. you
are aware that I am 17 years
old to day and I thought
I would write you a Birth
day letter at any rate. George
is in camp but has done
no duty since he has been


[crossed out] [been] there I want you
to see the governer as 
soon as you can and tell
him I have done but six
weeks duty since I inlisted
and tell him I am broken
down and cant stand it
down here much longer
the captain has a great
deal of influence over
the Surgeon and if he
wants to get a man
discharged he can do it as
easy as not. he thinks
I will get well and be
tough but I never shall
while I am in Kentuckey
because the climate dont 
agree with me in the 
least way and I dont
feel well any of the time
but I call it well but
if I was in Michigan


     Pa would be giving
     me medicine for it
every time I stand on
guard I take cold and that
uses me up entirely I could
come Home and Stay 4 or 5
weeks I should get quite
tough again but as long
as I Stay down here I shall
bee puny and unwell
and unfit for duty oh
if I could feel as I used
to in old Mich what
would I give. but I cant
so there is no use in 
talking about it as I
know of so I will stop
it right away now be
Sure and see the governer
and he will reclaim me
I am quite poor but 
gain flesh verry slow indeed
the heaviest I have weighed

since I have been
in Ky is 127 pounds
with dress coat and Blouze
whch weigh about 7 or 8 pounds
and I feel weak all the time
for some cause or other I
hope you Sent me Some
butter in the Box. write
as son as you get this and
tell me all the news about
home and friends tell
me how many rats
you have killed if you
dont rat a great deal you
had better do it more
now as I have no more
to Say I Shall have to
Stop I guess for the
 present write as soon
as you get this be sure
Good Bie from your ever
true and loving Son
to his Pa and Ma as a Birth
day letter    I G Atkins     Good Bie