John McCoy, letter, to Martha McCoy, 1864 March 18

done in the affair. I will write to the
adgutant General in Mass Concerning
it. it is worth looking after 144 dollars
a year would help you well, only for
that I never would have Joined the
army. if I can obtain it I calculated
to have you go to Mass every six months
and draw it or go once and appoint
a suitable person to draw it for you
and send a check once in 2 or 3
months. there is some talk about,
not getting the full Bounty as promised
but I think it will be all right
If you get the state aid there will be
72 dollars due you on the 23 of June
at a future time I will give you all
the particulars about it I assure you it
makes me very uneasy at present our
Captain is on furlough now and when
he joins the company I will take his
advice - be carfull of your marriage
lines the maybe of use to you yet either
in the state aid or precuring a pension

if I am killed as I hear you are
intitled to, you may read this to
my father if you please and to no
one else if I loose it folks would
only laugh at my simplicity- as soon
as possible get a stove chimney built
I think you have Brick enough if
not get more - a little lime will do
get it secured for fear of fire cost
what it may James Neshel son
of Joe Neshel that lived on the [illegible: [guess (MKR): farm]]
is only a few tents from me the only
person that I have seen since I joind
the army that I seen before.
—One of the men in my tent William
French from Antrim Chains or Shanes
Castle is will accquainted with our
lel relations there more in my
next the sound of the bugle
stops me from writing any more
to you but my heart is with you
and the children I would finish
tomorrow but I am on guard

and the mail closes at 6 oclock
A.M. - my health is extra
good I am fatter than I have
been for many years I fancy
I look as young as when I was
married- I must send you
my likeness soon but the
original would be better