[Written upside down on top of Scan 1]

Direct, as, Before To Cincinnatti Ohio

[End]

	Camp of 8th Mich Vol Infty
		Crab Orchard Ky.
			Sept 3rd /63

	Dearest Mother  Yesterday
another of your ever welcome letters
came to hand, bearing date of
Aug 23rd which always cheer me
at their arrival you cannot
think how much comfort
your letters are to me. you
say you think this is a very poor
   way of talking yet it is but
Oh how thankfull I am that 
we have this way of talking
what should we do if we
could not write to each other
I should be a most miserable
Creature if I could not hear
from Home but I am perfec-
tly content whare I am as I
    hear from Home often and 
all things seem to go happy at
Home I say happy for I feel
happy to hear you get along 
as well as you do

[Written upside down on top of Scan 2]

getting better I am going to see him to day

[End]

Well Mother since I seated my-
self to write this I have recd
two more letters one from
Sarah and one from
  Frank. B. Spaulding Dewitts Brother
from East Otto N.Y.
  But the more the better for 
me if they will only give me 
time to answer them thare is
nothing suits me getter than to
hear my name called at
mail time the Boys all say well
now Marsh has got all the
mail to night again I dont
see who he has write to
him so much.
   But I trust the time is not 
far distant when we can talk
in a different way and a much
pleasanter way. it is now
a little over one year since I left
you but it seems a short year
to me and I think a few short
months more will bring us
together again and a happy time
that will be to us yes it will

[Written upside down on top of Scan 3]

Billey [Call?] is well Dewitt Spaulding is

[End]

You need not fear my
getting tired of reading 
letters no never I read them
over and over again until I can
almost repeat it by hart and
then I begin to wish for anot-
her one from some parts
I am a little behind with my
writing now for I am on
Provost Guard in town and
dont get much time to write
but we are going to have more
help then I will try to give 
every one their just dues in letters
       Yesterday we had a squad
of Rebs to guard they wer
Captured a few days ago in
Tenesee and a dirtier set of men
I never saw in my life they
seemed to be glad to get out
of their Army One of them
asked me if I was tired of
the war and I told him no
said I. It just suits me I 
had as leeves be here as any
whare I am content whare I am

[Written on the sides and upside down on top of Scan 4]

how does my Boots ware will they last me all winter if I
keep them at home I am not ready for
them yet as my shoes are good yet

[End]

well says he I am tired of it and
the most of our men are. and
if things dont turn on our side
soon we are whiped for your
men have us cut in too in two
Places now and what can we
do well said I you are whipped
now only you dont like to 
see it but you must soon.
Now I must look to your questions 
as this as most full as for my
Pen and holder I never found
it but I have got another now
full as good. those [illegible] yes sell
them if you can I think you get
along fine. with matters at Home
      I hope it well soon be my
lot to help you eat your
Brisket & butter. and Visit with
Friends. Tell Sarah I will answer
hers as soon as I get time and
now as this is full I must close
Please remember me to all
enquiring Friends and except my
Warmest Love as your Kind Son
Mrs. H.J. Holmes             B.F. Marsh
      Good day Dear Mother write Soon