James H. Henderson Letter, May 21, 1863

              May 21, 1863 Camp Geribner? TN
Dear friend it is with pleasure that I seat myself to let you know that I am well and I hope when these few lines a come to hand they may find you all well.  I  received your kind letter and was glad to hear from you the best kind?.  I h’ain’t got a letter from home (?) not for a month.  I have written three and h’ain’t got any one. I would written sooner but I had no stamps and I didn’t want to send a letter without one.  We have been paid off and I sent 36 dollars home.  We are camped out camped at bowling? Station.  We have a nice camp in the woods on a crick we can wash off.  When we want our knap sack ? h’aint come up yet.  We h’ain’t got but one suit of clothes.  I think they will come up before long.  Well blame?- I recon that you has a hankering?? after Mary is.  I recon that he walked home of them? Old wickers around their guards? They had a chance to escape?. 
Well Mary I would love to come over to your house some day and eat blackberry pie with you.  We have a plenty of blackberries here, but we ain’t get any pie here.  Tell all the girls that I am all  right side up with (?). 
Well, I h’ain’t got anything that is interesting to write to you so I will bring my few lines to a close.  Write some.  Leander is well and fat.   From James H. Henderson to Chambers Lee.