my Dear Father .5. sisters

     I seat my self to let you that I am well and have reached Richmond one more time wee reached this plase .21.ont and your kind letter came safe to hand in cear of sergt. case. it was red with cear your clothing you sint me Came safe also and unforchantly one bottle of the whiskey you sent got broken I received the other bottle I will tell you there is 2 more man in our co. has died Whos names is L John White and L. L. Stepp [i.e., Pvts. Jonathan B. White and Lewis L. Stepp, Co. G, 1st North Carolina Cavalry] and J. K. P. Shipman Left our co. the 3 day of March and I havent herd from him sence he was varry bad off when he left I think he is in the hospittle at thys plase Dr Hilliord sayd he would try to assertain to day where he was sent and if he is dead I will write to you in hast he was oblige to bee sent to the hospitle for wee cold not take him with us wee have had hard times wee have not stayd one plase more than one night in 4 weeks wee ar now on the road to Goles Burro N. C. our forces at Manassas has fell back Rapihanticick River our reasons for retreating is a varry good one one reason is it was so muddy that wee could not have a fore back with them and another was that wee was cut off they yankees folored our forces to warron va. and their they turned on them and had a right nise little battle our men had the best of the fight they killed Some I cant say how many they took .100. prisners and if the road had not

Bin so muddy they would run them to Bulls Run and that is all the War news I have at this time
I want you to come to our Reg^t if you think it will bee the best and if their is any other .Co. you had rather go in if you haft to go you need not come to this co. on my account
I will tell you if I had to volinteer a gain I would go in a cavlry co. thoug evy mans nothion is not alike I cant thin the war can last vary much longer I hardly think it can hold up
     so I will clos I will rite to you again when wee get stationed so you need not write till i write a gain yours as ever J. A. Shipman

Tell Mart I am varry much oblige to him for his glovs [illeg] sent mee tell him I will get home as soon as can J. A. Shipman