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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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From Josephus Thew to his parents (Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Thew)
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    Camp Andrews Newbern North Carolina June 29th, 1862
    
    Dear father and Mother not hearing from you I do
    not know but you are dead or turned ******** and
    do not want to write to your son in the fedral
    armey I want to hear from you here amongst strangers
    it is a grate Consolation to hear from home and
    to hear that you are all well I am afraid that
    I will never see my aged parents **** we
    have got some hard fighting to do in this
    state and that before a grate while you
    nead not look for me home much short of
    two years we have got to have a long stan
    ding armey in the southern states and the
    healthey single men wil have to stay
    & I think Every maried man in Mass
    draws twenty six dolars per month and
    a single man 13 dolars that I will have
    to wether in threw the sothern Climate
    agrees with me when the war is over dont
    you think that I had beter marry a southern
    wife and Settle in north Carolina there is some
    
    [page 2]
    some pretty girls here but I do not like the
    rebel bread we have more of the black
    bread here than of the white for gods sake never
    Preach abolitionism again if you was here
    you would see a nough of nigers to satisfy you
    in one day I am sick of soldering it
    is a Mighty hard life to live Some of the
    time we have plenty to Eat for a few days
    and then we are half starved if that
    i do Ever get home I will go on the hill
    up by the old Maple tree above your house
    and get a large bell tent and keep bachelters(?)
    hall I Can bord myself for 15 cents per day
    do you think I wood have any visiters i have
    not been sick since i was last at home
    and never so hevey in my life I weigh
    one hundred and 70 pounds I have got
    to be a regeler soldier Can drill rastle(?)
    or fight I am the best at fighting 
    I am not afraid of rebel lead they**
    balls have been so ne*** that they did
    Call me their Cozen but i did not 
    think much of such relations
    
    [page 3]
    this is a pleasant Country we have
    a terable sight of rain and hevy
    thunder mixed with lightning write
    to me and let me know all the news
    try and find out whether my little girl is
    treated well or not and how Em likes her
    new husband is she geting rich or poor
    if that I Ever get home I think if he is with
    her or if in their town Either he or myself will
    Come up Missing  I have seen dead men and have
    helped kill them in battle  give my love to
    Helen and Kate and all that thinks 
    anough of old Jo to Enquire about
    him tell my brothers if they donot think anough
    of me to write to me that there is no love lost
    you Must write as Soon as you recieve this and
    oblige Me
               Josephus Thew
               
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