Memphis Tenn Aug 22 1862     Dear Mother    I now seat myself  to write a few lines to you  to let you know that I received   your kind letter to day and  will now take the time to  answer it to day I have been  out in the country after some  wood last night we expected  an attack but they did not  come to day I received a letter  and paper from Hannah she  was well she said William  did talk some of enlisting  but did not say much about  it any more if he does  enlist I advise him or  any one else to enlist in  some Regt that has been   
        Page 2     in the service if they go  in a new Regt they will have  to drill a considerable when if  they would come in an old  Regt they would not have to  drill but a little some of the   boys think if they enlist in  a new Regt they will not have  to fight much and that is so  because they will let the old  soldiers do the fighting it would  not be fair from these new Regt  to come in and take charge  of the whole thing we have done   if so far and we want the  honor I do not know what  to think about it some times  I think it will last three  And some time I think it  will soon be over about all  the boys get a letter from  Deer Park so might there has  been a quite a number of boys   
        Page 3     enlisting up that way I hear  I guess must be they are talking  of drafting up that way I would  liked to have the boys come  and enlist in this Regt but  it is to late now I suppose  I suppose Mary Aimee has  got off the notion of writing  I have not heard from her for  some time I can write as many  letters as she or any one   else I have not heard from  a letter from her before  long I hear that Charles Smith  is marryed to Amelia Baldwin  there must be an awfull  change in Deer Park since  I left but I guess my girl   will not get marryed until  I come I sent my likeness  up to you the other day the   one with a hat on I want     On top of pages 2/3     excuse all mistakes and bad spelling I must write Hanna a letter to night and send it in the morning   
        Page 4   you to send to Jenne  when I got your letter to   night I opened it and found  that little envelop in it  and I thought I had got  a letter from Mary Aimee  but I found out different  I do not know what it is  without it is paper we have  a plenty of such things  down here you kneed not  send that watch without  you are a mind to the boys  are all well as for Leander Laxon  having an office that is not  so he is in the ranks with  the rest of us and it is the  best place we are not responsible  for any thing I will have to   close for it is most 9 oclock  I am writing this by candle light  I am fat as ever no more this time  from your son  direct as usual John Beach    On side/top of Page 4     give my respects to the girls and tell them to write I just love to write letters