Bridgeport
Jan 30th (1862/63)

Good afternoon. I am almost asleep. Eddy, Pete, Niel and I took a long walk down (????) and down to where they were lilifing a steemer it is quite muddy this afternoon. After I got back I got a mail and read till I got so sleepy that I had to stop. So I thot I wuld finish this letter. Eddy is sitting by me writing to Cousin Charley he is at Heentsville Ala. about one hundred and fifty miles from here. I must hurry up and finish this letter as it is most time to play for retreat. Ed Huntes is laying on his bunk readin. Hank has just finished a letter to his Mary Ann. Hank sys it is only about seventy miles from here. Now Eliza I bet you I can write the longest letter If you don't believe it try it as tornossough. I will wate and finish this sheet Jan 31 as this is the last day of Jan and must male time I thot I would finish this letter. It rained hard last night but it is clearing of now. Eddy has just washed and changed his shirt. The boys are all rite fretti. (????) got a letter (????) arrives to am he rote cince he came Company I are out on inspection. They are out with their napsacks and your good by for this time. ALO

Bridgeport Ala June 7th 62

Dear Mother

As I have a little time before practice this afternoon I think I will let you know how we are.

I have just come from over the river where I found all the mulberries I could eat they are just getting ripe there will bee a world of blackberries here this summer they will be ripe next month, Ed was down from Stevenson yesterday stayed about two ours he has improved since he went to Stevenson but his and my diarea hant any better but I eat enough now so I don't grow poor any Ed Hentis is complaining today of not being well, we are having warm weather now but it rains every day so thati it makes it better, wee had to play for Grandmountain for two morning now and I guess wee will have it to do all the time now. Their was a heavy shower last night and when I waked up the boys was sitting up eating supper and my bunk wet almost all over, you say their is a great deal of prominceding their nights who are the prominaders you say the teems look first alike has father got two grey teems. I have to laugh to hear you have had one boy this is worse to do the chore than I was.

Who got up that story that some of us was captured I wish you would find out, has Mr White sent enough medician to cure Ed and I you wanted to know if I got the ledgers all safe I have had them all except 10 & 11 which have been skipped, I received that towel the other day it comes good I went in swimming night before last the water is warm Peter lays on his bunk reading a novel Hank is reading a paper Neil is cooking some mullberries Ed Hunter is in the other tent asleep. I can't think of any thing to write to day of importance but Ed is coming back in the band I guess, beck is trying to gett him back but Ed don't care whether he comes or not.

Father if you want some pictures of lookout Mountain Chattinoga and vacinity you can have them by sending to me and I will get them they cost 100 a piece. They will be good to poot in frames for parlor ornaments.

good by for this time
from your son

A. L. Ormsby

April 25th

Dear Sister

I received a good letter from you day before yesterday was glad to here from you but you don't write often enouf. all you can hear now days is drum and fife all the time some of the boys are out to practice I have been cleaning my horn got it as it looks pretty good. O Eliza tell Father to send me some more stamps as I have only two left. Ed uses two to my one. he is going to his Company him and some of the other boys could not agree so he sent in his resignation as leader of the band he is going up on the railroad where they can get lots of things to eat Cheap. we expect to get paid off in may we will get three months pay besides our bounty. we are having warm weather here and the flies are as sassy as can bee kiss Lilla and the baby for me. I guess I will stop before I get tired as I have got to write a lot of urnsie to day so good by and write often.

A.L. Ormsby

Eliza C Ormsby

Deerfield Mich Apr 24 1868

Dear Brother Allvin

I received a very nice Box from you on my Birthday I was very glad to get it and I thank you very Much. we are all well but Edwin he has not been very well since he was sick. he now is Spading in the garden and hurt that bad hip of his and is quit lame. Rhoda is quit smart she walked up her to day and went all over town with ma and walked home agin Alvin you write to Rhoda and she will write to you. Pa and Eleck and I have been making garden to day but I guess it is a goin to rain to night it has been very cold all the spring Our school comences next Monday Mrs Smith teaches the lower room and Clara Root the upper room they took the Express from Mr Comestock and gave it to Mr Henica too or three days ago. Ella Davenport has worked for Mrs Beers 4 or 5 weeks. Ma and I do the work now Mary Jane came over here and went to the Reformed Socit with us Aunt Frank and Rachel and Della came on the evening train and their goods came on the fraight they are goin in Peter M & Neelsons house to live I guess I have answerd all the questions I thank you for your compliment about my writing Ma says you must learn how to spell tomorrow

Apr 29 I had quit a party yesterday there was Rachel and Nellie and Leelie and Stela and dora Fenent and Maria Bilton and Della. to day is teachers examination day. Miss Fetirdge teaches in the union school in Blissfield this summer she stoped over night with us on I must Stop writing I want to go over and here the teachers examined so good for this time write as soon as you get this

Lilla Ormsby

Alvin