Cairo Illinois      1861
                                                  Camp Defiance  Sep 16 

                                 Friend Will

Perhaps you will be a little
surprised when you get a letter
from me.  Although I am
a soldier. and although we are 
separated by a few miles  I have
not forgotten you.  I believe I
am enjoying better health than
I ever did before in my life
Cairo is the nastyest dirtyest and
ugliest place I ever saw.
There isent a pretty Girl in
the whole City.  I havent spoken

to a woman since
I left home and it has pretty
near used me up.  I believe
if I dont get to come home
soon and see the Girls I
will Bust.  I dont know how
many soldiers there are here
now for we are not permitted
to go out  side of our regiments. only
as we are marched out in squads
like a drove of sheep to the river
and back to was[h] ourselves and
our clothes.  I expect if I dont
make a [ draw?] [in,on?] Uncle Sam soon
I will have come home and get a
pair of pantaloons or go in my shirt