.MjM1NQ.MzczNg

• This item is currently being indexed by volunteers. We look forward to making the full-text of the document available soon.*

Huntersville, Pocahontas C.O., VA., July 30th, 1861

To the family of Jos. W. Rawlings.

I now have the bad news to wrote you that I have the measles. I am now mending I hope fastly. We left Richmond Thursday. We had a very rough trip to Stanton. We came to Stanton on the baggage trains, and I tell you we had a rough trip through the mountains. It took us until nine or ten o'clock the next morning to get to Stanton. We staid at Stanton until Saturday

[page] morning when we left and camped at a place called Buffaloe that night. I was taken sick at this place. The next morning I was detailed s guard. It was raining and I got wet during the day. After traveling ten miles in the rain that day we took up camp. I stood guard that night ; and slept part of the night with my feet wet. The next morning I made out to get in a wagon. After traveling over the rugged mountains all day we took up camp after ten's miles travel. I was yet sick. We trav-

[page] eled until Wednesday which day I broke out with the measles on the road. I ate nothing for four or five days worth talking about; and what I did eat I trew up. We arrived at Huntersville Saturday evening. I feel as well now as ever I did almost-- I am somewhat weak yet. I have gone so far with the measles as well as any body in the world could have expected.

I suppose the the m'litia is drafted in Brunswick. I am sory to hear that.

We will go away from

[page] this place in a few days but where I cannot tell. I would write more at. this time but I do not feel much like writing. I would like very much to hear from home now. I hope that we will all get home by Christmass safe and sound. A person feels right bad when he is very sick so far from home. I have gained my appe-tite considerably for the last two or three days. I can eat almost any thing now. I will try to write you again before I leave this place. Excuse bad writing for I have taken but little pains in writing this.

Give my love to all inau-ing [?] friend, and relations and [?] a large portion yourselves. Wm M Rawlings