Augusta County: John N. Snider to Kittie J. Snider, March 17, 1863

I once more seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that, i am well and hope these few lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing of god, well, i have been looking for Brother James since last saturday but he has not came yet i was sure he would get here today, he may come yet this evening for it is only one oclock, Bill Anderson came a few minutes ago so did Hugh Adams,

Well after i commenced writing Hugh handed me a letter from you & Sarah & J. Horn, i was glad to hear that you all are well Hugh says if James started yesterday morning he won't get here until tomorrow, we have had some very rough weather, last sabbath night was very rough, i never heard heavier thunder nor seen sharper thunder in my life it rained very hard till midnight and then got very cold, I was Corporal of the guard that night. there is still some snow here yet the roads are awful bad, we are getting along very well we have good quarters and plenty to eat now it was for one week that we did not get any meat only what we bought our mess bought one side of bacon and it cost us four dollars and thirty cents apiece it was seventy five cents a pound we have the half of it yet and the side that Jacob Anderson brought with him we are getting plenty of beef again it is dried beef nearly all [unclear: ronds ] it is about right to make good steak, I can beat the woman frying steak we get plenty sugar and rice but we don't use the rice i wish i had a chance to send it home,

John Kirkpatrick & Davy Dice started home on furlough yesterday i don't want to go til we get our horses we have drawed dried beef to do us till the middle of April so i think about that time we will get our horses. i got a letter from brother William yesterday he wrote it the 10 & the 11 he is well he wrote very little it is not worth reading i will send it to you, I reckon you have a big time going going to old bucks to singing, I did not think you would go up there you had better come out to our singing some night and you will hear something that is worth listening at, well we just heard that Captain Lackey has got home i hope it is true and the rest of the boys will get home soon, we have preaching every sabbath in camp, i think our Chaplain is a fine man his name is Crook, i believe, i have no more news to write so i will close for this evening. please give my love to all the friend that think worthwhile of inquiring after me, i hope these few lines will find you all well write soon and give me all the news tell Cousin John I will write to him soon, i would like very much to send my old boots and a shirt home tell mother i would like for her to make me a saddle blanket if she can i have not had my comfort on since i came out i have most too many clothes now but i don't think we will leave here til we come home for our horses this leaves me well, i will write as soon as James comes out, i remain your brother till death so goodbye to all and may god bless and watch over you all is my sincere prayer.