Dear Mother.

     Yours of the 10th Came to hand yesterday you could not imagine how glad I was to hear from you & family. But I'm sorry to hear of the sickness that is amongst you & especially my poor old Granma but I hope before this she is improving and will soon be well It is very bad the boys are sick on account of the fodder and the sowing wheat. I dont know what you will do I hope you are mistaken about the dissease and it may turn out to be nothing. I have been sick again with the chills I have had four but have missed them now It dont seem as if I ever shall get clear of the plagued things Our Cavalry have Just gotten in of a scout down in Surray co. They accomplished what they went for and returned without the loss of very few men

They brought of with them twenty five hundred head of Cattle & good many horses & mules & some two or three hundred Prisoners & other things. Our whole corps was along. I started with the Regt & followed it about four miles & was taken with a chill & had to stop at a house. The Ladies treated me very Kind Carried me in the Parlor and sat me on a nice Sofa & fixed up something nice to eat you know I was in good [illeg] when I left them I thanked them for their Kindness toward me. they said no they didnt feel as if they had done anything for me. Surry co. is near Norfolk in rear of the Yankee army these Cattle they got was I suppose in reserve. The consript are getting very brave. I hear Benj. Weaver & son are in Jail for shooting Rawlett I think both ought to be sent to the army. [illeg] has lost his horse what does she say about it. I must close give my love to Grama & all enquiring friends.

J. N. Peed