Dear Father I this morning seat my self to drop you a line in answer to yours of January th 10.1862 it came safe to hand and was rcd with the gratest degree of pleasure in which I was glad to hear that you was all well those lines found mee as well as usual I was varry proud of the presants you sent mee it came in good time things is varry high at manassas socks is worth 50 to 75 cts pur pair and other things in porpotion I hope you will not think hard of mee for not writting to you I was detailed on a 8 days scot and left camp the varry day your letter come I seed a fine time wee just hunted whiskey and pord it out to keep the soldiers from getting it I just got what I could drink and a canteen full to bring in to camp and i can tell you it reigns ever day or snows hear and is the muddiest plase you ever seede and the worst water to use I ever seede allthough wee ar willin to stay till the war ends wee ar like the little Bull at the foddor stack wee sy say dam them that [2 words illeg] wee ar not uneasy I think their is the best hope of peace has ever bin Col Ramson Col. Ransom is looking all the time for an order to give us all furlows the health of our Reg is varry bad wee think their is some hope of them getting better since dr hilliard came home wee lost one man while he was gon to asheville he was a good soldier and A god Boy he

was a Boy from Rims Creek buncomb N. C although their is a good eal of sickness yet wee will get our 2 months weges in a day or 2 and their is nearly 9 monts dew us when wee ar in the survis 12 months wee will get 50. dolars bounty and I will send that all home I would asque you to tell all the Boys and esposhely the Gals that I will bee able to come home in a very short time if nothing happons nore than I know of tell Mort. I was varry glad to Get the glovs he sent to mee though they was rather small I think I has got fat since I hav bin in the war Paw pleas have vandavar to make mee a good pare of boots no 8 and send them the 1st one is apassing and I will send you the money when I get it Jackson Stepp sends his best respects and he wants you to tell grandady and gang howdy for mee and all the rest of his friends he says to tell you wee dont fear th d d yankees one bit mee and Stepp has got 7 blankets and one old wagon sheet and wee have fared varry well this witer stepp says th he has som hops of getting to come home and hee says he will come up Jesse Case [i.e., Cpl. Jesse Case, Co. G, 1st North Carolina Cavalry] say tell his friends that he is in the land of th living and would like to bee at one more [illeg] and espeshly a frollic so you will pleas writ soon no more at this time only Remains your obediant son

J. A. Shipman