Letter - 10 May 1862

A copy of the original document is shown first, followed by a full transcription.  For purposes of authenticity, I have transcribed the information  exactly as it is written - with all punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure the way it appears in the original text.

Camp Cumberland Ford KY

May the 10th, 1862 Dear father and mother brother and sister. I am well at preseant and hoping that when thes few lines comes to hand they may find you all well and doing well.

Sarah you said that you would answer every letter. I hav sent four or five letter and have got one from you if you do not rite I expect that I will get tired and carless and quit riting for it is poor encoragement to rite so often get such afew answers but I rite as long as I can get ay thing to rite on and with.

I will tell you something about the Number of letters I hav sent home I sent father 12 Sarah 4 William C Norman 4 Jane Norman 1 John 2 the number letters that I hav sent of is 38 the number I received is 29 but ho they ar from is non of your buisness for that is my on look out if some of the family don't rite oftener I will send you paper envelopes postage stamps. So turn over.

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and hire somebody to do your riting and to take your letter to the PO. if you don't rite oftener I will quit riting more than about 25 letter a week. You can't spite me by not riting for that is now reason that I should quit riting. I will tell you something about our travels we have been up to the gap and took a few rounds with the rebel we got them frightiny. So they shot their runner at out the rebel general. Said that this had to be seteld a Sunday night he talk as if he would come down and if he comes he can get what he needs and that will be a good whiping for we are ready for them at any time for we for we has 16 regt of infantry 2 batery 2 regt caverly all well drild and well armd and the most of them has been tride when we was up at the gap the general survey out place to put our cannons we don't know how long rebel general said that he would come down and fight a fair fight and man to man if we would keep the indiana and ohio men

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back for they ar as fraid of the whosiers and the buck eyes as death and if I was in their place I would be afraid to the Northern Yankee will fight as long one ______ and I glory in their spunk. I think that ______ will be declared against the fourth of July for their is all prospers (?) in the world we has the telegrapth runer in our camp if there is any fighting going on we hear all about it. to see all our forces out on despersal you would think that we could cut the gap up if was ______. I think we can cut it any how we ar looking everdy day for the pay master he has stay away so long that we hav sent on another pay roll in drawing two months pay we will draw four moths pay and when we draw I will send some  home (this is underlined). I want you to send me some needles and postage stamps if you want me to rite for postage stamps for her her you hav to pay 5 or 10 cents a piece rite and tell me what William C Norman for I can't her

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from him he has quit riting tell me what uncle eli (?) and james and the rest our relation is doing for they do not rite paper must be mity bleak in Martin or something else for they seem to be very saven with it. Well it is a fine thing to be saven with their paper for they don't know how long it will be for they get any more paper.

Well I wrote this beter than I wanted to. I am afraid that you can read (?) this but I think it is very doubtful I expect I had beter quit before I make you mad. Tell John to let the girls alone.

So no more at _____ ____ only remain your brother until death so part you and I from Pleasant H Bowman to Sarah C Bowman It will not be worth while to tell you to rite I now you but be saven with your paper.