Raycide Mosher Civil War Letters

[N.B. Although dated May, this letter was actually written in June]

Bridgeport May 5th 1864

Dear Sister Claria

I Jest Reseved a letter from you Dated May the 28. So I Set down with plesher to R write. I am well and have felt Rite Mart. now uo for a fue day we have not ben dowing much we have Rowl Coll Now & we haft to drill little Some days & git out timber for a Stockade. it has ben rainey wether here now for a fue days. I wro got a letter from you & Maria yesterday I wrote Rite back to her. I gess it Cant be to that ben boody is ded & as for Dr. Donehew he is here he is our docter. thare is a grate Ster here in the South they heve hed a number battels & we are a ganeing on them every time. but we are in a Safe place & we Shall Stay here probley all Summer bridgeport is well fortifide thare is tow forts a bilding & they have Canon on the top of the fort pointed towards the bridge. the bridge is .85. feet long over the River. thare is lot of interyferet infertry here with Canon. Father I expect you will get the letter I wrot the 20. of May & I Sent 81. dollars by express. we will be pade agin bey the first of July. The boys have goley times here Sence they ware pade drink beer pay ten Cents a glass. bey pies & Cakes they Spend a great ele of Money but I hant Spent onley 35. Cents and bout Stamps with. I am bound to pay my dets. but the boys will say to me what is the use of paying det here in the army I am agoing to Spend my money and have a good time while I am here for if I should be Shot they Say wat good would my money dow me to Send it home. I told them I did not Care I would Send it home & if I Should get kild it would do Some one Some good. If I Should git home a live I would have Some thing to help me a long. We had a foot race the other day a white man & a negro they put up 30. dollars & thare was some side bets & they went down on a flat a little way from Camp. Most the hole Rigment was thare to see them Run & the Curnel was thare & the ground was past of they was to Run 30 Rods they was jugs to each end & they pooled ther boots & pants of & run with ther drowes on they Run thrue it the white betit the it was a Smart Race but Some men was not Sadistfied they ting think the niger can bet the man yet the whit man is a Smart man he offers to bet one hundred dollars

Wal I shall haft to Stop writing I do not make very good work of it my ink is Rether poor & I dont write a very good hand to day but I will try to do better next time. you must write Soon as you get this & here is a finger Ring for you Clarrisa I dont no whether it will fit you or not I twill fit you or mother I gess So good by write ofton

Raycide Mosher

Co. A. 1st Mich= Eng=

& Mech= Nashville, Tennessee

We have no musketoes here. I have jest drowed me a good Ruber blancket it is a nice thing in the Rane or when it leeks on our at night to keep of the wet I Recon … This is a mixt up Mess. Clarisa your writing is planer then mine is today but I must do better or you will bet me …