[Drawing of bird]

Before Petersburg, Va.
Sept. 9th 1864
[bird drawn on top of “My”] 
My Dear Mother once more I 
seat myself to pen you a few lines 
in my poor way to inform you
of my good health and position
I am enjoying fine health now 
as it is getting cool weather down
here. and I am still cooking for 
the Stewards of our Div. Hospital so 
I have a good living. We have been 
making some fried cakes and roasting 
Beef. today. I have not recd 
any letters in some time but I 
expect thare is dead loads of them 
up to the Regt. for me. and I am 
going to go up and get them a 
send up tomorrow. We are only 
one mile and a half from them
Oh Dear me Mother the wind blows so I can't 
burn the candle tonight so I must close. Good Night.

Sat. 8 0 Clock P. M. Sept. 10th 1864
   Well Mother as I have a few spare moments 
how before Supper I will make use of the Pen 
again. One year today whare do you think we 
wer. I will tell you. We started from Crab Orchard 
K. Y. for Tenesee over the Mountains! and two 
years today I was in or about Washington 
thare is some of our Boys whos time is out 
the 23rd of this month and if we could only have 
our rights we would be free for as you must 
remember we enlisted to serve the Regts time 
out. but I am afraid they will try to hold [in?]
eleven months yet. but I hope not some 
of the Boys say they will never do one days 
duty after the Old Boys go home. I do not 
say what I will or won it do but I am 
going to do just as the rest of the Boys of 
Aug. 1862 does, and you may bet I will 
not hurt myself with duty for if the 
Government is as hard up for men as to 
hold them under false enlistments or to
lie to get men I think it is time the 
whole institution Sunk or Something else.
Well Mother I will close for the Day and finish tomorrow 
for I cannot think of anything worth Writing 
this. P. M. it is Nearly Suppertime we are going 
to make a Ferenia pudding and some tea with 
fresh caned Peaches. [etc. etc.?] Oh I am getting as fat 
as I was when we wer at Lebanon, K. Y. when 
I had that Pitcure taken to send Home.
Sunday 2=30. P. M.
Now Mother as I have just finished 
my work from dinner. I will finish this sheet ___ 
We had a nice Dinner of Baked Beans, soft 
Brea.   Boiled Pudding (plum pudding) [etc. etc?]
          Oh I must tell you what a fine time I had 
one week ago last night just after dark we recd 
Orders to pack up and we soon pulled down 
all our tents and got them on the Wagons and 
started out but before we got out of sight of 
the Old Camp ground we stoped in the road 
whare we remained all night. it rained
hard soon after we stoped for sometime and 
we expected to start any moment but was to 
wait for Orders. I kept walking around untill 
one O.Clock when I begin to get sleepy and as I 

Put all my things on the Waggon. I could not 
do as must of the others had done long before 
lie down on the ground and sleep. but I had 
some News Papers. and I spread down three and 
then lay down but finding it to cold to sleep so 
I went to the waggon and got my Over Coat. then I 
two of my papers to one of my Comrads and 
took one to lay on and my Coat to cover me 
and went to sleep in the morning I awoke
cold and stiff as an old Horse, and we started 
off without anything to Eat.
             Well Now a few words more and I 
must close for this time I must help get 
supper. I had to stop writing a few moments 
ago to hold up my tent there is a storm 
coming up and the wind blew hard
I do not get my Mail from the Regt. 
yet. You must excuse me for not 
Writing oftener for I am so buisy now 
since I got to cooking. 
       Well I must close hoping the 
23rd of Sept. will soon come and 
right prevail. I remain as 
evr your Affectionate Son.
[two illegible letters scribbled] B. F. Marsh