[Written sideways on left side of Scan 1]

February
4th
1862

[End]

                               Camp Mekim
                                     Baltimore
                                        Maryland

                               Dear Wife
    I received your letter last night
which was Monday night and it found
me well and tough as ever I was very
glad to hear from you and to ehar that
you both was well you did write so that I
could get your letter last week it was
almost two weeks before I got aletter from
you there is dull time in our camp now 
there is no drilling agoing on with the 
Boys now on the account of such bad weather
it has stormed evry day but one now for 
three weeks either rain or snow and the 
snow is not over three inches deep now
the mud has been agreat deal deeper than
what the snow is now when you write again
tell whether you get those things or not you
will find them at. C. P. Dibbles Store if
you have not been and got them yet you
said that you would send me little Lillys
likeness to give to Mrs Welch of Eliza do

Send it it will be so nice for
her to remember her by when I am
at home with you and that little Darling
one liza I now ask you if you would
like to have me send you some of these
young ladies likeness that lives here in Baltimore
there is one that I am going to get and
send it to you any way it is Miss Betty Welc
the young lady the Daughter of that lady sent
those things to Lilly she has got mine she
got it before I went down to Verginia and
said that she should always Keep it to remembe
me by when I was in mich and she told me
she would give me hers to send to you and
Lilly if you dont want it write and tell
me so you spoke about my being fleshy but
I am not as fleshy as I have been since I
have here in Baltimore Eliza we have those
meetings [yet?] that I told you about in
[smudged word] my other letter and I go as often as I
can get achance to go I have to [illegible] now
day and I can not go when I please but
I will go to church as often as I can
while god spares my life it is my whole 
hearts delight to meet in the church I 
have given in my name to the M. E. Chur
                                      ch
here in the City Eliza you must Keep up
good courage until I come to [see?] you
again and that wont be log long
the prospects is now that we shall be
home to spend the fourth with you in 
Michigan oh if we do how I shall be
to meet my friends one more and to see
that little darling of ours Kiss her often
for me for I think of her often that is 
sure evry nigh when I go to my bed to
go to sleep I think of her and lay for
hours and think of home and those that
are left behind to mourn my loss if 
it be my lot to fall on the field of
Battle but if I do I am determined 
to fall achristain and achild of god
Eliza tell nettie that I send my respects
to her and hope she will be a good girl till
I see her again I think it will not be
long before that time will roll around it
has been 5 months since I have looked 
on her face but hope I shall see her befor
it is [illegible] pleasant day here to day the sun
shines bright as you please I will have
to close my letter soon for Josiah
wants to write afew lines to you all so
give my respects to all of my 
inquireing friends,          yours truly
                              Dick


                               Affectionate Sister
              Since Dick has kept a little
blank on one side of this sheet I will try
to fill it up. My helth is gaining & I am getting
to be a Soaldier again. Camp life agrees with 
me much better than the Hospital. I was
glad to hear from you & to the letters that you 
Sharlotte & Nettie sent to Dick iff [there?]
was not eny of it directed to [illegible]. I was very
Sorry to hear that Ma thought that I did not 
write often enough. I thought that I had written
quite often, but if not often enough I will try to 
write oftener in futier. But I think I have written
two letters to our folks one since I have been a 
Soaldier. Ma I often think of the [illegible] kind
parental care over me during the days of my 
                                              ley 
juvenile [fath-hood?]. & day^  feel that I need thy
Same advices although numbering the days of
when I may once more be numberd among those
of your family circle. Eliza tell David that
I recd a letter from his Sisters the other day
which I shall endever to answer as soon so I can
muster up ambition to do so, I hope to hear from 
you all soon . Nettie I take it that you [air?] enjoying your self quite
well this winter. That is all [wright?] I hope you will continue [the?]
                                                                                                               tes
[same?] until I return . Love to all . Our [Regt.?] is now in a few minan^
agoing to form out our [drep?]-perade whare our Colnol will be presented with a
Sword and Sash that was got up from donation from the [R.I.?] & is worth [$200?].
A splendid thing you may besure.    Truly Yours    Josiah

[Written sideways on left side of Scan 4]

Go let me have a good long letter from you 
                                    & that quite Soon [illegible]