[Written sideways on left side of page]
 
my love to all friends 
 
     Camp Wells Oct the 15 1862 
 
[illegible] 
     Dear Brother & Sister 
     I received your letters a few 
days ago & read them with pleasure 
it does me good to read letters from 
my friends in Wright & to hear that 
they are well I cannot Say that I well 
nor I dont know as I can Say that I am 
Sick I think I shall be all right in a day 
or to Ralph has got the Rheumatism 
in his right knee joint he is better 
than he was I think. when we came 
to this camp we got here late no time 
to put up tents it rained a little most 
all night and Ralph took cold at that 
time in his knee Philip is excused 
from duty as well as myself Martin 
is tough as a [illegible] & Luther 
Stands it first rate Michael is at the 
Hospital he has had the Measles is better 
now James is well & Albert Carver 
Mr Thom is tough Jude & George well 
[Written upside down on top of page] 
 
kiss Hattie for me yes and Some 
of the larger girls to if you can 
I guess you can if you try 
 
day before yesterday 20 of this Com 
went out on [crossed out word] [illegible] of which I was 
one of the number we generaly have 
good times if we get in a good place 
or [illegible] a good [illegible] because we get 
Something diferant to eat when we 
was out Martin Bought a pie John 
[illegible] a Jonnycake & C [illegible] a loaf 
of light Bread & I got a few plums 
and the Lieutenant Bought Some plums 
& the boys   brought in Some Turkeys 
& Chickins the Colonel thought that 
there was to much Michigan money 
passed here. So yesterday they ordered 
all to fall in the Enemy is in the rear 
between here and Cav expecting to 
have a big march I did not feel 
able So I was excused & when they got 
out there examine Pocket Book when 
they got through the examannation 
that was all the enemy there was 
[Written upside down on top of page] 
 
tell Pa if he got that Certificate I 
want to know it if he did not get 
it I will Send another 
 
     [illegible] I cannot hardly write 
there is so much jokeing & laughing 
all kind of talk Sometimes they are 
quite steady and we have a good talk 
with one another there is a prayer meeting 
here once in a while but Seldam 
we Expected to march this morning 
but the order was countermand we 
expect to march Soon perhaps in 
a day or two the most of the people 
around here appear to union but Some 
confess that they are Secesh we are about 
40 miles from Cincinnatti [illegible] miles from 
Williamsburg    there was a battle the 
other day at Richmond [illegible] there was  
10 or 12 Ambulances wagon with the 
wounded they Say there is an an army 
of Rebels up the pike a little ways I 
doubt it Some    but I dont know how 
it is they Say we will be in action before 
long we may and may not very Soon 
[Written upside down the top of page] 
 
one of the boys of Co B died this 
Morning it hapens quite often here in the Army 
 
the boys are just agoing out 
on Battalion drill I think we have learnt 
Some in the drilling line Since we left 
Hillsdale as [illegible] is out there trying 
to Spread himself in drill I must 
tell you that he is our Lieutenant 
untill the Captain Brother Comes he is 
in a day or two & Lieutenant Whipple 
is Ajitant William you Spoke I think 
before I left a bout getting a hive of 
Bees it is as you and Pa can make 
it I guess it wont be a very hard 
matter to make a trade with him 
I must close perhaps you getting 
tired of reading &, Go dear Brother & 
Sister & Hattie for a Season I bid you good bye 
may the the time Soon come when wars 
shall be heard of no more may the right be done 
it is very dry here the trees are green yet 
it has been very dry here this Summer they Say 
I think of home & friends in wright very often 
write soon both of you & often good bye