Dear father I take my pen in hand to let you now that I am well at this time hoping that when thes few lines coms to hand that they may find you all well father I am coming home next Saturday I want you to hav me a good horse aganst then if you get me a horse I will get $24 amonth $12 amonth for me doll 12 for my horse go to [illeg] and try to trad him out of his mare ther are five Companys her now
A Way Down in virgina Wher I dont expect to Dye load up my gun and make the yankeys fly

I am well satus fied and got plenty to eat I Want apare of pants Dark colerd >br>tell Avery folks that avery will bat home next Saturday We expect to go to the warm springs in about three weeks we has our pistols her now redy to shot the yankeys
that is all that we think about is killing yankes last evning we had a ragement Dress per rad with about 400 hunderd in [illeg] tell that [illeg] is well satus fied I must fetch my leter to [illeg] A son to A father