44th Regt. N.Y.V
			 Co. H

	Yorktown May 13th /62
	     Dear, Mother,
		I now seat
     myself to answer your much
welcomed note which I received
this afternoon. I was very
glad to hear from home for
it had been some time
since I had heard from 
any of the follks. and was
also glad to hear of your good
health and hope this will 
find you as it leaves me in
good health and spirits.
     Our regiment continues at
     Yorktown [penciled in - Va] and I think there
is no doubt but what we
shall stay here until we are
started for home. it will
be a pretty good hit for us

for we shall not be in any 
danger of being killed in battle.
some of the boys say they had
rather take the field and fight
the rebels but I am willing to
take up with my lot. let it be
campaign or garrison duty.
We shall probably have to stay
here till the war is over. which
I think will be by the fourth of 
July. but if it does not close
by that time I think purhaps
we will be permitted to come
home on furlough. I think it
would be difficult for me to go to
see Edgar but I wil try and see
what success I will have.
   There was a note in my letter
to day for Harvey Wall, but he 
is in the Hospital at Philadelphia
I suppose and I do not know where 
to direct a letter to him but will
send it to him as soon as I find

out his address.  I am going to
send home a box by express as soon
as I can and some of the things I
want to remain unopened until
I come home. I have got quite a
quantity of traps to send if I can
only send them. I do not know
but Frank & George will send some
in the same box. and if they do
I shall mark all the things that
belong to me so you can tell them
     George. Johnson visited me
to day. and I expect him to stay
with me to night. his regt.
has gone on up the river.. he was
sick in the Hospital when they left
but is quite smart now. he sayes
he has not heard from home
in over a month. He says
soldiering will do if a man
cannot find any other employment
but he thinks he had rather be
getting out he's in Allegany

      There is no news to write
this time. so good bye
		Write Soon
		John Wheeler

		J H Wheeler

		J H Wheeler