Camp Taylor, Lousianna on Beoff (Beouf) River

August 5, 1863

Dear Parents,

I again write as Mis. David Wilson of our company is going to start home to Johnson after cooking for our company(.) I thought I would write again to inform you as best I can the sort of winter clothes we kneed (sic) so that if it be possible you can supply our wants(.) We kneed pants shirts overshirt but not so heavy ones as you sent last winter for I have mine yet & it will do for the very coldest part of the winter(.) Ma, please send me one made open ____ hunting-shift fashion with pockets in it(.) Please put pockets in all the shirts you send us(.) John kneed socks(.) I don't kneed more than one pair if that(.) I want a pair of soft shoes so bad I don't know what to do but I expect it's an impossibility to get any (of) these & I know it is here(.) John wants a hat or cap(.) He would be glad to have some other little tricks but I have mentioned enough to put you to a sight of trouble(.) I will not say more on the clothing question(.) I don't know where to tell you to take the clothes too though(.) I recon you will find out where they want to collect them at(.) I want you ___ if you possibly can to send me a saddle well sized ____ & have strong stirrups & leathers & a good girth if possible. I wrote you to send one over in another letter. I stand very much in kneed of one for mine is borken & nearly ruins my horse's back(.) We have no more money scarcely on hand or we would send some to you(.) ___ bought a six shooter apiece for which we paid one hundred & ten dollars apiece& my horse dying and having to buy another horse puts me out of money though we have several months pay due us(.) I don't know when we will have again(.) I send you a paper of pins needles & a fine comb which I bought last Spring & have no use for so many(.) I have another & that I bought & John has the one you sent us & also some apricot seed(.) I don't know whether they will grow in Texas or not(.) They are mighty fine fruit in Arkansaw(.) I have no reliable war news though plenty of flying reports not worth writing(.) Such as France England and Spain acknowledging the independence of the Confederate States though I don't put any more confidence in it than I used to in old hunches and tales and our reports are here that Johnson & Lee having been playing thunder while ther's ___(such?) again(.) Lee takes forty thousand at Harrisburg& fell back & then followed him & he taken 7 thousand more besides killing 20 or 30 thousand(.) 30 men from our Regt made a raid on the Mississippi R. & captured some mules & as many blankets & other clothing as they ____ nearly that(.) Some Negro Cavalry and infantry ___ these out without hurting any of them(.) There were 3 rgts of Negroes down there(.) I am in good health & in as fine spirits as usual(.) A great many though are down in the mouth about Vicksburg being taken & other defeat but I think they never will whip us as long as eternity last(.) John is down sick(.) He went to the hospital at Monroe & got up well once but when he came back to camp he taken sick(.) He has slow fevers ___ day(.) I think he will get up though again in a few days(.) Ma if Sister Annie is there at home tell her I (still?) love her(.) I want her to write to me for I have not had a line from her in a long time & the Lord knows I love to read her letters(.) Tell her I want her to ____ me up a nice over shirt to go to see the Lousianna Fair(.) ___ in for I don't think I will ever be in Texas any more until the Feds ____ us there(.) But if the war does end shortly I'll make some means. (I'd) say yes or no very soon after I get home(.) if Sister Annie is not there(,) write to me when you heard from her and I want you Pa & Ma to write to me as soon as you get this for I want to hear from you all & want to hear all the news you know about Lampasas & our old Friends(.) I wrote to Sis Jannie the other day(.) I reckon she will answer it(.) I love to keep writing as long as I have means to write with for I know I had rather get a letter from my kindred than any thing on earth(.) I wrote to you about two weeks ago & have wrote one or twice to Sister Annie since I got one from her(.) I shall closwe my letter by signing my name(:) Your Son Affectionately(,) H.C. Tipton (Henry Clay Tipton)

Ikey Basey