1862 February 24 Camp Near Centrreville

Camp Near Centerville
Feb the 24th 1862

Dear Father and Mother I
Take the present Opportunity
to Drop you a few lines to let
inform you that I am well at
present and hoping hope when theas
few lines come to hand they may
Find you injoying they same
Blessing I have nothing of importance
to write to you I Received the 2
last letters that you have written
I Recd the Box witch you sent
me the Boots witch Father sent
me was so large that I could
not wear them I sold them for
$10.00 & cam make out verry well
I Just had got me a pair of
shoes witch cost me $2.30. I want
you to let me know what them
Boots cost I expected to send
you some money But me
Being at the hospital
throwed me out of drawing
my money untill the last of
this montsh Father & Mother
I was truly thank full to you
for sending me them thing[s]
Mother I can Bake the best
lite Bread you ever saw. It rais the
ruff of the house up We air
fairing verry well We draw
Bacon Beef & rice coffee and sugar
lard dride apples dride beans
Salt Flour and some times
Corn meal

[page 2]
Father I must say some thng
a bout a soldiers life I like
the camp life Fine we go on
picket guard a bout every 13th
days we stay 4 days we have
lively times double quicking after
the yankeys it is useless
for me mention any thing
a bout the war fair for
there so many rumors going I would
not like to mention any thing
to be the truth William & James
Hamilton sends Best respects to
you I have a notion to reenlist
[?] For the it looks hard that
we would serve our thwelve
months and then give it up
and let the Federals trample
Over us I will fight them
as long as I live if the yankeys
ever comes to Centervile
we will give them fits--I expect
that we will have some hard
Fighting in the Spring you must
Excuse me for not writing any
sooner it was not because
I did not have the paper
and envelops I was thinking
about sending you some paper
envelops and stamps Give my
love to all the children
I must Bring theas few lines to close
so nothing more I will soon write a gain
Fare Well
James B. Painter

Corporal, Co. K, 28th Virginia

MSS 10661