Citation: Shoemaker Letters, trans. Joshua R. Brown. From Heritage Language Corpora. http://www.heritagelanguagecorpora.org/



Camp Neir Charlestown, Virginia

Dier brother i take the time to troph a fiew lines to you to let you know that i receivet your letter this day of January the 10 and i was wary glat to heer that you are all well at present fother i liet you know that we are all well just now and i hope this fiew lines will find you in the same wane if it gots please fother we have gool nuff wether but and much snow fother we have goot time just now down picket and som teek on a stockate to safe us from the carrilles if the came but i think the want trubel no much this is all from this for this time. fother i was wary glat to heir that my brothers and sisters all well and i wish them all good look and sent them all my best respect that i can and so to my father and mother. fother i let  you know that you wright me an aghfil letter that’s make me a llittle grazy i tell you i was so that i coult hartly can reat your letter now dand forget to wright me a leter bag  William is well now i will wright you about a box how it is  Benjamin Shoemaker

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Camp near Charlestown, Virginia

Dear Brother,

I take the time to write a few lines to you to let you know that I received your letter today January 10th and I was very glad to hear that you are all well at present.  Further I let you know that we are all well now and I hope these few lines will find you in the same vein, if it pleases God.  Further we have cool weather but a lot of snow.  Further we’re having a good time now on the picket and some took a stockade to save us from the Rebels, if they came back.  But I think they don’t want any trouble.  That’s all for this time.  Further I was very glad to hear that my brothers and sisters are all well and I wish them all good luck and send them all my best respect that I can, and the same to father and mother.  Further I let you know that you wrote me an awful letter, it made me a little crazy.  I’ll tell you that I could hardly read your letter.  Don’t forget to write to me a letter back.  William is well.  I will write you about the box.

Benjamin Shoemaker