1862 April 6 Orange C.H., Va.

Camp Taylor
April the 6th/62
Orange Court House Va
Dear Father & Mother
I take the preasent
Oppertunity of droping you
a few lines to let you
know that I am well at
present hoping when theas
few lines comes to hand they
find you injoying the same
blessing. I have no news
of importance to write
to you there have been
several fights down here
one at winchester one at
warrenton station we have
been successful in all
we have had some
hard marching we marched
15 days we marched some
times until Stars was
shining we had to

[page 2]
carry knapsacks it was
the hardest trip I have
had since I have been
in service we air in Camp
at Orange C. House we
Drill twice a day we got
all our tents Burnt
up just haf to camp
Out in the woods when
it rains we strech up
a blanket to sleep under
I had my health Better
since I have been service
then I ever did Before I
received your letter witch
was written 9th of march
I sent Sixty Dollars By
Lieut Col. Robertson to you
to write to me if you
got it or not you
wrote to me to send you
one lb of powder but it
impossible for me to get

[page 3]
it we air alowed 40
cartrdges and if we loose
any of them we haf to pay
12 1/2 cts a piece we air [pre]pairing
frustrate the yankeys says
they air going to take Virginia with
Out ever fireing a gun we have
evacuated centerville we
will show them a lively
time when they get up[?]
I expect we will have some
hard fighting to do the
yankeys air going to try
to Run the Burnside
fleet up to Richmond
and take it General
Jackson give the yankeys
fits he killed a bout
tow thousand of them
they was whipping us
through the winter but
we will turn the
jake on them

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Now I must
bring theas few lines
to a Close Write
soon so nothing
more But Remain your
affectionate Son untill
Deth
James B. Painter

Dear Brather
I take the
present Opertunity
dropping you a few
lines to let you
know that I am
well at present
hoping when theas
few comes to hand
they may find you
enjoyin the sam Blessiing
I must close we received
Marchin Orders Just now

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

MSS 10661