1862 October 17 Camp near Winchester

                      Camp near Winchester
                               Otober the 17, 1862
Dear Cousin
                 I write you a few lines this
morning to let you know that we are
boath well and much hopeing that this
may find you all enjoying the same good
blesing,  I have no news of intrust to write
we have had a long rest sence we have
bin here,  tho I expect we weill have to leave
here to day, we have orders to be ready to
march at amoments warning. I do know
not know which way we will go,
 I received a letter from sister yesterday
dated the 8 of October & one from Sister the other
day dated the 5 of Oct,  I was sorry to
hear of sicknes being in the neighbour
hood,  we have some sickness in camp
tho not as much at present as has bin
we have too sick men in our Company
Bage Pritchett & John Hundley  thay are not sick
much tho thay are not able for sentry
I have injoyed very good health sence we
left Richmond.  I think I can stand the
service now if thay will gave me
enough to eat,  we have goten a plenty
sence we have bin here accept Salt, same
we have not goten more than half enough salt

[page 2]
  I am glad that we are going to leave this
place for the people through here are all
mostly quaker,s and i had almost as live
be with the yankees as to be with the
quakers.  the Yankees will sell us eny
thing cheap for the specie tho thay
will not take our notes,
the yankees will sell eny thing thay
have got when the spirit moves
them,  th we cant catch them rite half
our time,  I will hush about the
yankees and quakers and tel you
what a interesting meeting has bin
going on in Camp, it has bin
going on for near a month, nearly every
night thay has bin a good meney
converts sence the meeting commenced
I think it is time for them to turn
after being blesed so plainley as thay have
bin, in the past battles,  I thnik Mr
Penie had changed very much, be fore he
was taken sick.  he said that he was deter
min to do better than he had bin do ing. 
I dont think I ever saw a plainer change
in eny person than thare was in him,
 I must close as my paper is about out
gave my love to all the girls and share
a large portion for you self & write soon
direct your letters to Winchester.                                             James Booker

James Booker of Pittsylvania County, Co. D., 38th Virgnia "Whitemell Guards" writes on behalf of himself and his twin brother John  to his cousin Chloe Unity Blair

MSS 11237