Dear father and mother

I drop you a few lines

to let you know that I

am well and I hope theas

few lines will find you

injoying the same bless-

ing I landed in richmond

on wednesday evening.

we air fairing verry well

we get beef & bacon & rice

sugar & coffee I like the

camp life fine there

air 30000 troops here now

I seen more cannons

than you could shake a

stick at I seen goats by

the whole sale our capt

is going to get us all the

things that we need

I dont know how long

we will stay here tha

[page 2

re throwing breast works

up all around richmond

but I am not a helping

tha have got 1000 negroes

at it I have seen the

very yankeys prisners I will

have my likeness taken

and send it out by

col sperry you know more

a bout when tha are a fight

ing than I do we he[a]r no

news some of our company

air a little sick but non

air in the hauspitle we

have not got our arms

we dont drill much

we have a regiment of

frenchmen we may form

regiment here at richmon

dear father I hope you

air getting a long fine

with the old gun capt

Breckinridge will send

[page 3]

me home when I get

sick dear mother

I read my bible twice

a day. dear father If

on earth no more I

see prepair to meat me

In heaven dear brother

prepair to meat me in

heaven give my best

respects to all my

inquireing friends

now I must bring

theas few lines to a close

write to me soon

direct your letter

to camp [?]

tion in care of capt

Breckenridge richmond

Va

I hope to remain

yours dear father

and mother untill

deat[h]

[page 4]

tell Mr hamilton

James and are well

James B Painter

tell my girl

howdy for me

ha ha ha



Corporal, Co. K 28th Virginia Infantry Regiment

MSS 10661