Friend Ward

     I tak my pen to answer to your letter I received this morning We 15h I was very glad to here from you after so long time. I am Well and keep a kickeing about the same as ever Have been on two marches but no fight saw on Reb Prisoner they is all the Rebs I hav seen since came to N.C. 8 Company of 46 Reg. are at Plymath [sp. Plymouth] been gon five Weeaks Co A & I were left back to gard the Camp. Don Went With them he belongs to the Band so he had to go. I hent seane him five weeaks to day since I have seen Don. so I dont know what you wrote him. I will give him the Gun [illeg] when I see him. Aall We two Compnys do is to drill 1 & 1/2 hower in th mornig gon gard once in two Weeaks We play ball pitch quoits the

rest of the time. We play the New York Gam most of the time. Mass Game some We Changle other Regement and thay us the 25. Mass is the Best plays 46 next 44 next 51 Nex Battarys Next 5 R.I Last some exciting games to. Have a Greesy pole Grees Pig all sorts of games you can think of Cards Domonuse, &c Well fred How gos the times I am much ablige to you for your advise Not to go after th Darkes I think, I I shall axcep of it. But How are the girls in M.—I shall have to go out of town to get me one When I get Home shoud I or have you got one picked

out for me if you have Who is it. If I liv to get Home I am bound to hav a time if there is such a thing. I shold think you must mak a god thing now if were at Home and out of a job I Wold lik to Work for you. See When I get home how things looks. What are O S, Jemmy [3 words illeg] and the rest of the boys up to this Spring and the girles to. Hav you seen Don [3 words illeg] if so how do thay look I wold lik to see them first rait.
the Boys have bases up & and are in a stem to have me

play ball I supose I must go I Will Chuse you. you my Catch & I Will through. I Wish you was here to play. I Will drp Writing now and Will report after I get through playing. As said I Wold report I Will do so. My side got 10 tales. The other side got 7 talies the sam wons are going to try it to morrow. The Rebs are geteing rathe thick here thay are bound to tak Newbern if there is a poasable thing to do it We shall try to give them some I [illeg] Fled before we let them hav it. What do you think of the War &c. Did you see L. H. Shattuck when he came to M. How did he [2 words illeg] This sheet is a bout full I Will close By bidens god knight Please write soon & often To [illeg]

O W Harvy

To F E Ward
Marlboro