Camp Browunstown (sic) May 17th /63
Your (?) Govner (sic) Pierpoint Dear Sir
It is requested that you will make some arraingement (sic) for orus (sic) to git (sic) some proviseonz (sic) my men has left Home famulyz (sic) behind thats with out nessarys (sic) of life must suffer there is some things transacted hear that seemes (sic) to be Greavous (sic) the famulys (sic) that has husbands in the rebel Servis Seems to fare (sic) best in some respects I do think that wee (sic) as Va ginians (sic) that wee (sic) have bin (sic) tried as goald (sic) in the fire wee (sic) have Sacrefrised (sic) all our property and our lives is at stake in the defence (sic) of our Contrys (sic) & the flag of our farthers (sic) & now my dear friend I wosh (sic) for you to Remember ous (sic) & our people in South West of this State wee (sic) must fight this thing through at all hasard (sic) let it cost what it may wee (sic) want means & money and wee (sic) can give them fits on drive Them from our soil It now my Dear friend I hope you will See in this imperfect leter (sic) what wee (sic) want Please farward (sic) to me at this Point a leter (sic) for consolation what you have dun (sic) on will do Excouse (sic) me for the request your obiedent (sic) friend & Capt until Death
x Jos H Barker
x Govner (sic)
tell me & about the two men that sent there statement to you about there transfere (sic) from the 4(?) Va to this state to be placed in (?) so they can fight where they volenturd (sic) to fight you have there statement Please attend & answer the same yours forever John A Barker
Transcription by Stacy Bloss, undergraduate student enrolled in Dr. Billy Joe Peyton's Fall 2010 "Introduction to Public History" at West Virginia State University