1861 [post July 21] Manasses Junction

Der father and mother

I take my pen in hand
to let you know that I
am well and I hope when
theas few lines come to
hand they may find you
inJoying the same bless
ing father I am a bout
7 miles below manasses
Junction at centerville
I dont know how long
we will lay we have mar^'h'c
[?] marching orders every day of
so I ha I have been In
the battle field I seen
the verry yankey wool
I seen dead horses I seen
the verry yankeys legs
the sun us roasten
the greas out of there
heals I tell you have

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elephant yet I seen
trees shot down there
air a bout 175000 soldiers
between us and washing
ton we air fairing
verry well we air all
in fine spirits we
air a bout 26 miles from
washington and about
18 miles from elexan
der we have joined
prestons regiment we
have a splendid colonel
[?] company is in
this regiment clifton
daingewood is a little
sick I seen all the
Boys down here that
I knowed Jack
mosley s down here
I have ner never
heard from ^'you' since
I have been down

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field I seen men
prising a yankey out
of his grave the took
his teeth out and
berried him a gain.

I could o walk over
them like tha was
bruits tha smell like
brits I we have more
privalidge here then
we had at richmond
no[w?] I could tael you
a bout dead yankeys
the you could shake
a stick at now I must
bring my letter to a close
write soon direct
to manasses Junction
28 regiment va volen
teers in care of P. G.
Breckenridge I hope to
remain your der son

James B Painter

[top margin on page 1]
I made a mistake here
I number the pages

James B. Painter, Corporal, Co. K 28th Virginia Infantry

MSS 10661