1861 December 26 Orange Court House

Dear Father and Mother

I wd take the present
Opertunity of dropping you
A Few lines to let you
know that I am well
at present and a hope
when theas Few lines come
to hand, they may find
you injoying the Same
Blessing I received your kind
letter yesterday I was glad
to here from you all tell
uncle S C Abbott I will
write to him soon I have
my health better then I
ever did when I left home
I weighed 131 lbs and now I weighed
150 pounds I have nothing of
importance to write you it
is knot worth while to say any thing
thing[sic] about the war [word smeared out] news for
we dont know when we
hear the truth we air Fairing
very well we get so much
beef to eat we hafto build
a fire on top of our
heads to melt the tallow
out of the ruff of our moths
I am still at Orange C H
the ladys of Orange give the
Soldiers a Big dinner to day
I done some eating I would
like to see you all verry well
but i it may be verry possible
that I never See you any more

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i get my washing done for
nothing and vast quantity
pretty girl look at I
tell Brother G. W. to write
to me Soon I expect to
send Father $50 00 dolladrs
Before long & now I
must bring theas few
lines to a Close Give my
love to all the children
and to all inqireing friends
so nothing more
but I hope to remain your
affectionate son untill death
so Fare well

James. B. Painter

Dear Brother it is
with pleasure to drop you
Few lines to let you know
that I am well
and hope when theas few
lines come to hand they
may find you enjoying
the same blessing I was
amused to here of your
double quicking from
Harvest nothinge more
dear Brother
G. W. P J. B. P.

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

MSS 10661