May 2, 1864

My dear wife and children i rite to day to let you now i am alive yiet and is well i hope this will come to hand in due time and find you all well and doing well as could be expected i supose our men has retaken washington DC and plymouth it is reported in camps we will move down to new bern in a day or two we are ordered to cook 3 days rations to day all is quiet along our lines we had abust up yesterday in company D there was an order for every one to take his horse to  aStak and every curry him now body done it that was dis obeying orders ther was 34 of us arrested last nite about 11 oclock we got to headquarters to day we was tride we all come clean only 1 man he has to go to jail his name is ben glazner itel you com D is high up ihope it will all more armery i aint much to rite you i am looking for a letter every day the last one igot was rote april the 16 day i rote to you april the 15 the 18 the 24 iaint got any answer from them yiet i wood be glad to here from you rite how you are getting along with your work and how the stock is doing and how the grain looks how williams and melton is getting along let me now if you have truck enough to do your gin. all the news in that country i dont now how long we will stay here there is sow many reports in camps that aint sow. our rations is slim we are in a great confusion here to day our trial is all over now damage done i wood bee sow glad to see you all and talk with you that 1 man come clean now i tel you this scrape wont bee forgot soon itel you there is now satisfactson here let me now who was conscript there and where all the troops is in that country i wood bee sow glad to bee at home one more time iwill rite again before long you must excuse my bad riting iaint in now fit to rite i am nervis to day every one will get there rites some day. i will close by saying i hope to here from you soon your affection husband til death

S. Sl. Stepp to Eleavor Stepp

howdy to you all direct as before