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money deducting what little I owe the Engine
Co. out of it and Pa can git it.  Dear Ma, you speak
of the scurmish at Lees Mills as being so dissasterest
to our side tis true we lost some men thear but such
is the fate of war but we have the proude satesfactin
of knowing the men actid noble and the southerners has
men to content againtes and not cowards as they
represent us to be. God knowes thear has been a great
meney lives lost in this unholey and unnatural war
Tis true the people of the north has suffered some but
Ma, I have seen cases witch all most made me cry.
In Virginia I went to a house to buy some flower
and thear I saw a site that I hope I may never see
a gain. Thear was 2 old woman, 1 young woman ho had
3 small children and not a mouth full to eat litterley
starving to death. What little they had was stold from
them, but this is only one case in a thousend what is
in Virginia. I am sory verry sory to learn that you have
been so sick and hope and pray you may soon regane your health,
but Ma I beceach you – do not worry or over task
your self for you must reccerlect you are getting old
and not able to do much now I have read your kind
letter over and over and it makes me feal I have some
thing to live for if the Gods of battles so decreas
that I should come out safe and sound thrugh
this inpending battle. Pray do not give way to
your feelings as it will onely make you sick
and will do you no good in the end. Tis true Anna
Louisa can not be with you much now and I know as {remainder of this letter missing}