December 3rd 1862
Camp Ellabishop lexington
          Kentucky

Yes sister Jo I received
your letter of the 23rd and
Was right Glad to Hear
From you and the rest of
The folks Well Jo May Bee
you think that times here
is better Now since the arest
of our Colonel But that
ant so for We have to Drill 
all the more Jim he is off
Writing some whare and henry
he is telling some of his
yarns and over in the other
Company they are A having
A Dance they are A having
A bully old time it makes
me think of old times When
We use to have them to our

house but it is such hard
Work to tell the Girls from
the Boys that they make
some mistakes and Get A boy
insted of A girls you sayd
that lafe Was agoing to Write
I Would A like to receive A letter
from him that so buy dam
I hant herd from home since 
the last time by hokey so
ther is a big Talk of
their getting this War here
in Camp but I Guess that
is all A hox So I am Glad
that you and lafe Came back 
to live With father since he
has had such Bad luck
to loose little Wille he use
to take so mutch comfort
With Him and then he
was so mutch Comfort for
the rest of the family Dont
you Miss him I Dont believe

that it Would seam like
home to me since uncle
Seth and Wille Died I think
I can Say God bless the lord
for Giving me Good health in
this time of nead When rebills
look Cross eyed and Generals
Get suprised it makes me
think of what the Nigger sayd
that he Did not expect to
see the time When A white
man had to have A pass
and A Nigger Could Gos whare
he was A mind to I think
that is about so Well Jo
I Cant think of any more
nonsinse now so
           Good by this
           from your
          brother to
      Jo Mallison