Hd. [Qrs?] Army Patomac & Company G. 8th Mich Vols
		Sabbath Morning July 3rd 1864
	Dear Mother. I have been looking for a letter from
Home now for three or fam days. I thought certainly I should
get one this morning for we had such a small mail yesterday
only one letter and that was for the Commanding Officer of 
Company (G.) and always after getting a small mail one day
we look for a large one the next day. but this beautifull morning
when it come mail time the mail boy came along and
said thare was no mail for us, not U.S. Grant nor 
United States but as the Johnies term is – [illegible] or [illegible]
so I will Write one home. to pass the Sabbath as I can't go
to Church I have written one letter to Augustus today
and passed some of the time in reading my testament
and Singing Oh no excuse me well trying to sing for 
as you know I am no singer, but I have to hear singing 
and especially here in the army. but we have but very little
of it here. Oh I wish I was whare I was two short years
ago. today. yes Mother it is almost two years since I enrolled my
name in the services of the United State. and since
that time I have seen somethings which I never want
to witness again. Oh how often I think of it how fortu-
nate I have been to escape thus far! I think it is through
the kind protection of one who rules above and doeth
all things well that I have been spared Oh how often
I think of my Praying Mother at Home and long for
the time to Come when we shall meet again~~~

	Well Mother I suppose we will have a grand Salute for
for the fourth of July tomorrow morning at three O.Clock
I understand. it is reported around the lines today that
the Rebs have said they wer going to surprise the
whole World tomorrow I wonder what it will be
I suppose we will learn Early in the morning but let
them do as they may, we are well prepared for them
and I think they will find some Yankees around
them if it is the fourth day of July it is said we
have (740) seven hundred and forty Siege pieces ready
to open on them and I guess we can make a little
music as well as they and make some of them dodge
as for myself I have got a well fortified position
for my Hd. Quarters built up with sand bags and
dug down in the ground. I think I am all sound.
	Aut Terrys Hd Qrs are just by the side of mine we
sit and chat together each under his own vine and 
fig tree oh no mine is a mulberry instead of
a fig tree. I have lots of burries to eat they are large
and nice. (Oh good here comes the mail at last
and B Frank gets .one! two! three! Bulley for me - - -
		Well now I have looked my letters
all over. and I fell fifty Dollars better than before 
now I suppose you well want to know who they are
all from. Oh I feel so good I can't hardly write
but one was from Grandfathers folks. [Leon Center?]
are from Frank, Spaulding and the third from 
Miss. - - - - — - - - never mind I know. for I
recieved her Photo (Oh you can't guess if You try ~ ~~


Now Johnies just be good until I finish this letter
don't throw any more of your rotten balls over here
hark I hear one comeing (Cover] Shell) all right
I think they are mean to disturb me on Sunday when
I give them all the week to play Ball. don't you
Well Mother Grandfathers folks say they dont hear
from you and want to know why you and Alvah
and Sarah dont write Oh I get such good letters from 
them I love to write to them their address is [Leon Center?]
Cateraugus Co N.Y. now do write to them and [illegible]
Sarah write for I know it will Please them so
they want me to send my Photograph have you had
any more taken as is that man thare yet I left half
a [doz?] when I come away but they wer not paid for
Oh I wish I had some money I would have some taken
from that Camp life. [illegible] you have. if you have
one or two of mine you can spare I wish you would
send me them. in your next. but that calls for
money dont it to get any taken well I guess. we will
get our pay soon. but if Alvah has sent any money
Home I wish you to get some of those Photos of
De Witts and mine Picture taken for me and send to me
and when I get any Pay I will send enough to make it 
all right. Al owes me four or five Dollars at any rate
Mother I wish you would get me one of the best lead
Pencils for writing and send it in a [illegible] me I can't
get any here that is good for anything and I want one
so much. now I guess I want a good many things
well you know I always did want this and that at
Home. but you must not put yourself to any trouble to
supply my wants I only want things so if it is 
convinant for you to get them and not without
	Oh dear it is such warm weather here. the Thermometer
runs from 106o to 110o in the shade and that makes it
very warm in the sun. Oh dear me my Paper is full I thought I had
half a sheet to fill to Sarah yet but I see I am foolished this time [Shure?]

Well, Well, I am Foolished Shure! now you see I am so pleased
with my letters I am almost Crazy
	how I guess I well write a little to Sarah .
		My Dearest Sister You see I have made
a big blunder in this letter I thought I had it full
until I turned it to fold up then I saw my mistake
but it is all the same in [Was?] time so I shant [word crossed out]
make any apologies but will scratch away in my
usual way untill I spoil this half sheet with all the
rest now I believe it is not long since I wrote to 
you and I cant think of much to write as my
head is so full of something I can not think of 
anything worth writing. I suppose we will have
a jolly fourth of July tomorrow. I hope you will
enjoy yourself better than I expect to I suppose we
will have plenty of [illegible] at least
I have just recd a letter from Grandfather
and I will send it in my next one Home I must
keep it until I answer it. I recd one from Frank [S?]
he said they had not recd any more news
from DeWitt yet.  you tell about warm weather
in Michigan Oh go away just come down
here one day about noon and you will give
up. well I must close soon but I am going to
send you a piece of hard Bread that was taken
from a harvesack on the Battle field here
I think it is hard be carefull and not Eat it all up
I suppose you will think it is so good = now I guess
this is full write often. Yours in love Frank

Mrs. H. J. Holmes.!!
Fentonville
Michigan!!