Fort Bliss, Tex. March 9th 1867
My dear sister    I write you this letter to let you no
I am well    I ask of you in this letter to go and take
my boy from my wif as sh is not doing write by him
take him and keep him until I come home    if sh is
not willing to gave him up go and shoe this letter    it is
my rccust for you to have him    I doe not want her
to have my child with another man    I would lik
for my child to be raised well    I will be hom next fall
if I live    a solder stand a bad chanc but if god spars me
I will be home