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Brunswick County Feby 6th 1863

Dear Mort

I have seated myslf this morning to write you afew lines in answer to your letter of th 2 Inst which I received yesterday and was very glad to here from you & Larken these few lines leaves us all well at present and hoping that they may find you both enjoying good helth

You wrote me that Kelly had ordered you & Wm Carpenter back to his company i advise you not to go back under his order as you was assigned to Capt Nebtells company by Col shields

I do not think that Kelly has any claim to you and I should stand my hand until higher authority demanded you [thru?] Kellys – I do not think that Kelly can get you in any difficulty as I wrote to him soon after you was transfered and made a full statement of the whole matter

                         Kelly

and Chas [?] told me that he received the letter

           you

he knew where was for the last 3 or 4 months and

                    you

could have demanded at any time

If you could get the secretary of war to indorse your papers you would be interily out of the reach of Kelly you had better talk to Willie & Maj Smith about carrying them before the secretary of War Willie could make a full statement of the

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matter in writing to the secretary of war the conversation past between me & Col Shields ware as follows I told the Col that I had a young man with me who volunteered in the service for 12 months and was sent home on a sick furlough and while at home his term of Inlistment Expired he took no part in reorganizing the company and did not receive the bounty of fifty dollars I then asked the Col what position he occupied his answer was that he was a conscript and put you in the camp upon those terms you can show this letter to Capt Coleman if you think propper nothing more at present only remaining yours

Wm M Rawlings JW Rawlings

Fort Drewry, Virginia March 28, 1863.

W W William M. Rawlings

Gholsonville Post office, Brunswick County, Virginia Confederate States of America

W. M Rawlings Fort Drewry, Va. March 28,1863 Gholsonville Brunswick County Virgin