Camp near Lexington
     Oct 22 1862
          Dear Sister Good
           afternoon how are
           you and the rest
           of the folks in
           general I am well
             tough as a bear
and so are the most of
the boys. All the boys that
you know are as well as
usual except Joe Gillis
he has had the typhoid
feaver but is better now
so as to be about. We are
camped near Lexington
a little west of the city
by the railroad no fence
between us and the track
we have had quite a time getting
here had several moves sunday
night we got up at midnight
and marched 13 or 14 miles before
8 oclock in the morning 
then we stopped near Georgetown
throwed off our knapsacks and
got 1 days rations in our hav
-ersacks and started out on
picket staid till till the next
night then went to camp 
and slept till near 12 oclock
then got up struck our tents
and skedadleed for Lexington
                    ^parts of
12 miles and    Co A had to
scout each side of the road
and I was one of them
 we got to Lexington just
about sunrise. Scouting is
overstone walls fences and through
what I get by being one
all kinds of going is
of Co A but here is what
is good for it if any one
is I have not been excused
from duty a day since I
enlisted lucky for me.
to day I am on camp guard
the wind blows rather cold
     ^more
but     pleasant weather I
know as I ever saw this
time of the year it has
rained but a few times
since we came to Kentucky
and we some just as nice
country as I ever saw in my
life I think some of those
nice yards that we have
read so much about in
reading stories which I do
not have time to read
now hardly have time
to write  to you. I have
                                         ^es
written one to uncle Charl
the only one that I have 
written besides those that
have been sent to you and
E.J. and Clark. I heard of
Mothers death last week the 
last of the week I dont reme
mber just what day was
                                          ^e
buried at Medina I suppos
Etta felt rather bad because
she was not there did she
not. what is the prospect
of you and sis going to 
school this winter I guess
that she will miss Jerry
and I if we did bother her
a little when we were there
Tell Clark that I will risk
that watch in a box if 
he has a chance to send it
in that way and there will
be chances enough Alvin
Wilber and the rest of the boys
that over that way will
have a box sent before long
he can do it up so that
it wont break and put
my name on the package
and it will come strait
enough I will run all
the risk for I want a good 
watch the worst kind. Some
think that we shal stay
here some time one of the 
captains told the boys this
morning when they were stak
ing the tents that they were
stacking them for 4 months but I

[Written sideways on right side of Page]
do not know but I must stop for
the present James
Well I have 
been on dress parade
to night. And stewed
some cherries and some
apples and Jerry and
I have made out quite
a supper & now I will
                               ld
tell you what I cou^ 
dispose of if I had
                                d
it for I think I shoul^
be welcome to it if
I was there you may
send Jerry and I
box and I will pay 
the express that is

[Written upside down on top of Page]
That is all that I can [illegible]
of that not all either
you may fill 
it up with what 
you have a mind
to there is no prospect
of moveing from
here Oh some butter
to if there is some on

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Uncle Billys plantations but enough for tonight
your father may pay
it out of the money
                                  d 
that he has in his han^
                                     ts
some of those beechnu^
that you said that
you wished I was
there to eat a few apples
would not go had I spoke
about my winter vest
                                        h
and I think that the watc^
would come safe enough
in the box for boxes come
direct now to send then
by express as they have
done Clark could get
a receipt for the value
of the contents of it
so that the express company
will be responsible for it
and it can be packed so
that it will not break
but he may do as he
thinks best about it
The boys are most all
asleep but I must tell
you a little about that
glove I got in the 
church at florance it
laid on the desk the [illegible]

was some that they had to
hold the window curtain
up with. Jerry got a lot
of it. Last Friday night Peat
Vandorn got here he looks
very pale yet I dont
believe that he will stand
                                                   es
much grief yet. good night Jam^