Rome. Mich Feb 4 1865
AMShaw
   Dr Sir
      I last night read
your note and in reply will
say that Luli Barrus has
                 Bill
read the [?] ^ from me the note
shall be paid at once. I only
want to be satisfied that I am
 not to pay the note twice. I have
no dispotion disposition to defraud
defraud you of your rights or
take a penny of what belongs
to you. I owe some one 70 dollars
if I owe you. Their Barrus has no
claim on one for the fifty dollar
bill. now if Luli has the bill I will
see that your note is paid at
the earliest opportunity but I have 
not the least recollection of having
the bill paid back to me.

Give yourself no uneasiness
about my cheating you for
I would as soon cut off my
right hand as to take a dollar
that belonged to a soldier You
will readily see where I hesitated
to pay the note,  I will make
arrangements to pay you at
the regiment or if you choose
you can wait tile my school
closes where I can pay mr
Teachout who to night tells
me he holds the note. I will
have Capt Bowen or Lt Decker
settle with you at Mt Sterling
or if you wish to leave it
with Mr Teachout I shall
be able to pay it in 6 weeks
So you can inform me or Mr
Teachout how you would like
me to do I would pay it now
but I have not recd my back
pay yet all my other money 

is all out at interest so that
I cant do better than pay it
in the manner proposed.
If you had the note there Capt
Bowen would Cash it on my
order. Perhaps by the way mr
Teachout expresses it you would
as soon wait for me to pay it
here. I will do as you say. Pardon
me Mr Shaw if I have wronged
you at all, but believe me I only
fought to do what was right I
just I expect soon in the 
spring to be down there I I
will talk the matter over. I
Confess I dont remember if your
paying me the bill but I may
be mistaken Give yourself no
uneasiness for I will not wrong
you. As for interest my money
of L Barrus was to draw no in
terest and as to the other I can
pay for the use of it

I hope this may be satisfactory
to you & all concerned
I am Sir Very Yours
                 James
              W Sterns