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