March the 24 tuesdy 1863
My Dear Wife
I have once more taken my pen in hand to rite a few lines to my love to let her no that I am well at present and I hope thes few lines will find my dear the same but my dear beloved wife I am sorrey to tel you cince I rote you the last time I have bean trobbled with that nasty cof and cold a gain for the cof hurts me the worst for I cant take but a little sleape with it for I dont want you to feal bad a bout it for I shant di with it but my love if you hant sent that box a way will you please to send me something for my cof and wat I dont use one time I can put by but now i will commence a gain my dear be loved wife I recived your kind letter last eving mondy and I was so glad to hear my love was well my dear you need not think that i shal get mad be cause you told me to kiss a woman I no you did not menet my love but my dear beloved wife I hope we shal stay hear now til you can com hear or til we can com hom for good and that will suite me the best my love but I am a fraid it will be a good wile yet my dear but my dear beloved wife I am sorrey to tel you what has hapned hear last saturdy thear a one of the men plaing ball as well as eny man cold be and to day he was carred to his grave he was from mediner I dont now his name he goes som times with the base drom my dear wife I dont care wat you rite to me so I can hear from you to or three times a weake for we dont get quite so much time to rite now as we have don be fore we have to go to work every day bilden up brest workes a round the town to keep the rebbles out from it if we can and I think that is all this time so thear is no more from your well wiching husbon Stephen Burton the one ho loves you so dear so good morning my love ma god bleach you and and me to day and for ever more amen that is all I have got time to rite now for I want it go out this morning.
