Camp Ella Bishop
                       Feb 1st /63
Sister Emma
         Good morning
How do you do this
morning I am well
we have got back to
camp and  the mud
is towards knee deep
we cannot get out of
our tents with out
getting into it either
it is mud where ever
we go yesterday we
had brigade drill
today we were to have
general inspection
but it has rained all
the fore noon so we were
                                    t     
not called out. provos^ 
guard duty has played out
with us I reckon for
a while. Jerry says tell
the folks he has just
taken his whiskey rations
but not any for me
but I expect you
will scold when I 
tell you that I have
learned to play cards
but you know what
I think about card
playing if it is not
carried to far it is
no worse than fox and
geese or checkers and I
think I know when I
have gone far enough
dont you? if you are
afraid that I shal get
to gambeling I will
                                    k
stop immediately spea^
your mind freely and
                                      ing   
not be afraid of offend^
me for you know who
you are writing to. I dont
calculate to do anything
that I am ashamed
of to tell you and
if I do anything that
you do not think is
right I want you to
say so. Well I have had
a dish of beans and now
I will scratch a little 
more some of the boys are
playing cards but I
can get along without 
playing Sunday yet
I had rather write to
my friends. as long
as I have not got but 
a few. has your Father
got that draft yet
                                    t
some of the boys wan^
to get their names off
that allotment roll
I have not seen Charlie
                                   h
today there is so muc^
mud that we stay
pretty close to home
but I reckon he is
well the boys are
mostly well.  you
will not find this
very interesting I
reckon for you know
I cannot write where
there is much noise.
The last letter that
I got from you was
numbered 13 when it 
ought to have been 14. 
There is meeting this-
afternoon at 2 oclock P.m
I think I shal not go.
but stay in my shanty
out of the mud. Have you
sent that box yet it can
not get here a minute to quick
write soon and oblige. James