1862-11-08 letter from James Thitchener to his friend Phill

              Due to the difficult nature of Thitchener's writing,
the edited transcription will follow the literal transcription.




Orleans Virginay november 8 1862



Dear friend fill this after noon i take
the pleasure to rite to you again and i am
glad to think that I abel i am well only
my feat is very sore we hav ben on the
march for three weaks i hav ben plade 
out three or fore times but hav to go
ded or a live over mountains and hills
thrue suamps wet or dry day and night
haf froze we hav had a harde snowe storm
las night and it was unpleasent for us
to travel or in camp we had to in camp
one night rite down in the snow
we was so tierd we coad sleap eny
war tell we got colde sumtimes
it donte mak eny diference war we slep
we hav dro the rebels sum
time and we kep driving them
til we are cuming war  they ar
thoicker and faster they ceap
abought three miles hed of us




Orleans Virginia, November 8, 1862
Dear Friend Phill,
This afternoon I take
the pleasure to write to you again and I am
glad to think that I am able. I am well, only
my feet is very sore and we have been on the
march for three weeks. I have been played
out three or four times but have to go
dead or alive over mountains and hills,
through swamps wet or dry, day and night
half froze. We have had a hard snow storm
last night and it was unpleasant for us
to travel or in camps we had to camp in
one night right down in the snow.
We was so tired we could sleep any-
where till we got cold. Sometimes,
it don’t make any difference where we sleep.
We have drove the rebels some
time and we keep driving them
till we are coming where they are.
Thicker and faster, they keep
about three miles ahead of us.