Camp near falmoth
                       febuary the 26  1863

igot a leter from father that was rote on the 16 of last month and 
was glad to hear that he got the mony iSent  he Sent for Some corn 
but idont think ican gitit for i dare not go out of the Division or 
els the provoce gard will pick me up  and i would not know where to 
gitit any way for ihant Seen a farmer in thre weeks  iSaw wesley Ely 
knight before last but i had not much time to talk to him for iwas 
on gard   he is well  he is driving the ambillince  

igot the paper and tobaco and mony father Sent  the Rebles made
a raid yesterday and drove hour pickets in  the cavelry Come in 
half Scart to Death  Some had lost ther hats and Some ther Sabers  
ican tell you there was confution in Camp for a wile til the hole 
Division was in line and going out and the artilery going on Double 
quick and in a bout one hour and a half they come back a gain and 
dident See a Reble  

iheard they had past a Conscript law that they was going to take 
all that was eighteen till twenty five  if they do it will bring 
a great many yet

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End Notes:

"falmoth"--Falmouth, VA., a large Federal Camp, or series of camps

"provoce gard"--Provost guards are Military Police

Near the end of this entry John makes an observation about the recently
passed Conscript Law...a Draft Law, which will draft all men between 18 
and 25 years of age. This Law was the cause of terrible riots in New 
York City, and necessitated the call up of Federal Troops to restore 
order.