I transcribed the letter a few years ago and am posting the transcription here. If anyone sees something differently than I did, please let me know.
June the 28 1862
South Carolina Anderson Destrict
Dear sons, we take this opertunity of writeing a few lines to you to let you no that we are all in tolerable helth at this time. I feel thankful to God for all His kind blessings He has bestoed upon us, hopeing that the same kind blesings may find you both enjoying good helth when the come to hand. We resceived your letters date the 22 & 23. We was glad to hear from you both that you was tolerable well after undergoing the hardships of war ever sence you have bin ther. You wrote that maby you might go to Virginia. I wish you could git of that ilant. I dont think anybody can have ther helth there. If you cold git to a better place i would be so
(Pg. 2) glad. Eliab ses he thinks Virginia is a hard place for soildeirs. Hampton Stone and David Braszeal went thear sence the battle at richmon and tuck a box of perversion to the boys. The found thim with out any thing to eat. The have to march abundance and that in a hury and in mud and water wast deep. Neal writes that the hav no tents and his chanc to sleep is to rol himself in his blanket and ly in the rain or set up, and flour, bread and bacon was all the had to eat. The had nothen to cook with thear meat, bad fair. I am verry uneasy about you all. It is sed the battle is on at richmon now and i am afraid ther will be a battle wher you are too.
(Pg. 3) Margret Stone sends her best respects to yo and gorge. If we had any chance we would send you a box of perversion and your brow pants too. I am afraid you will both need them bad before i can git the chance to send them. I cant hear of any body coming up from thear. The Sunday before Neal left I heard a letter read that James Fowler sent to his father. He said the had bin three days at a time with out eateing any thing. It is hard times thear and i am a frade worse acoming. Martin, your pigs looks well for thear chance and our crop looks tolerable well for the chance. George, the taters looks well. You rote that you wanted to come home if you went to Virginia.
(Pg. 4) We would be too glad to see you both come home once mor. If you could git to come we would be so glad if Neal cold git to come home too so that you all could be with us wonce more. There was twenty or more negros whiped last wensday at Williamston for makeing a attemt to rise. Eliab and Lousinda is well as common. Your aunt Polly and Vashti and Hannah sen thear respects to you both. (illegible) remembers hear love and good wishes to you both. Mr. Trainham left hear sence diner, he left his family all well. He wishes to be remembered to you both. Mr. Watsons family is well. William Watson fingers ant well yet. Write soon so i must come to a close, no more at presant but stil remaining your loving father and mother until death, Josiah M. and Elizabeth Barkley to George R. and Martin V. Barkley
Rite soon
We hant heard from Neal sence we rote to you.
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