April 15th 1863 Bowling Green
		My Dear Pa and Ma
  I am now in camp with 
the rest of the boys who are
all in good Spirits which is
the case with me I am quite
well every way except my
ankles which Swell up verry
bad and make me verry lame
we have Signed the pay [rool?]
to day and will get our
pay tomorrow. and as I am
in debt here for washing 
and Some few little things
I owe ten Shillings for a
hat and I have to pay 10
cents a piece for wasing
Shirts and 25 cents for wash
ing pants and coats and
I have three prices a week
which takes 30 cents and 

as I am not able to do
my own washing I Shall
have to get it done for a
few weeks yet and as I 
three dollars for a pair of
boots and as we get but
26 Dollars this time I 
am afrad I Shall not able
to send you any or at least
not a great deal a man
in the army has no chance
to live any beter than
a common hog if they
are as well fed as yours
and he needs money to get
little necessaries which every
Soldier needs there is evry
prospects of a battle at nash
ville. before long george is
about the same as he has
been for a month. I
got your letter day before yes
terday and was verry glad to

to hear from home. and
Will got one yesterday
Stating that [Asseneth?]
Crandill was dead. your
letter was dated the Sixth
and was five days on
the road has Ellen and
Linda got my letters which
I wrote them about one
week ago. I hope you will
Send me the box at any
rate as we are in Sumer
quarters. I wrote to you in
my last letter that I
would send you $10 when 
we were paid but as I am 
liable to be taken sick
at any time and taken to
the Hospital and then
I Shall need money verry
bad and I am determined
not to be out of money
I Shall keep what is left

after paying my Debts
but if after I keep it
a while If I have some
to spare I will send
it to you I am not
like I was at home
I Keep my money a
great deal better because
I know the ned of it
better than I did then
now dont blame me
for this you know that a
Sick Person needs more 
at all times they cannot
live on hard tack and
Sow belly as a well one
can pa wanted me to
tell him about the watch
that [Defrees?] had. when
I was in Louisville I went
where he was sick and got it
of him and sold it and 
used the money. the three

weeks which I was in
Louisville I had to get all of
my things washed there and
it took two dollars to get
that done and 1 more for 
apples and milk and I got
pies and other things with
now for one more thing
if you have not seen the
Governor you need not
but I you have tell me
what luck befor you write
to the Captain now as I
have no more to say I
will Stop So good bie
from your ever true and
loving Son Israel G. Atkins

P.S. give Fanny
the half sheet of blank
paper to write to me on
She must be a good girl | I G A

[faint writing illegible]

[written in red pencil]

x
4-15-63

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[written in pencil next to red writing] 

15

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H A Atkins
Perry Shiawassee Co
Michigan
P M Please send with H Lovejoy.
mail and oblige I G A

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