Prison Camp Elmira NY April the 25th 1865 Dear Companion It is withe the greatest of pleasure that I again embrace this oppertunity of writing to you to let you no lthat the goodnefs and mercy of our blefsed God is still resting upon me at this time. I am enjoying good helth and rite use of my limbs and exercise of mind and filenty of food and raiment and my only trouble is about loved ons at home and I do cincearly hope and pray to Almity God our Heavenly Father that this will reach you and find you all enjoying the same good blefsings, for which we should at all times render unto him thanks and the adoration and praise of our hearts for his loving kindnes to us, I have no news of interest to write to you more than I am in fine spirits of being released from Prison and permited to return to my home again it is generally believed that we will soon be released and I do trust in God that it will be so. Joseph Knight has been released so there is none of our neighborhood men here but me and Wm Holland he is in rather feeble health though still going about, I have not hered from your Father yet though I am still inhopes he will send me the money I wrote for, I hope it will not be long if the Lord will until I see you and talk with you face to face but do not look for me nor suffer yourself to become uneasy about me but put your trust in the living God and stay upon His Word and pray unto him, for thay that wait upon the Lord shal renew thir strength may the blefsings of our God ret upon you all shield protect and deliver you from all harm and accept of us in his kingdom at last is the prair of your most devoted but undutiful Husband Asa D. Oakley W.B. write Soon These two letters are from Asa D. Oakley who was a Minister of the Gospel here in Coffee County, Tennessee. He was b. cir. 1832 d. 3rd/2nd Sergeant, Co. D 44th (Consolidated) Tenn. Inf. Enlisted: December 9, 1861 at Camp Trousdale for 12 months. Captured: Front of Petersburg June 17, 1864 P.O.W. - Point Lookout, Maryland - date of arrival: City Point 6-24-1864 Transferred to Elmira, New York 7-23-1864 Date of Release: May 6, 1865 Took Oath May 12, 1865 Asa D. Oakley is the son of Francis A. Oakley. Asa D. Oakley married Mary L. Kennerly on January 16, 1854. They had a son named Cary C. Oakley. Mary L. (Kennerly) Oakley is buried in the Miller Church Cemetery, on Hillsboro to Decherd Road in Tennessee. She was born March 13, 1834 and died December 5, 1904 at age 70 yrs. 8 mo. 22 d. Asa D. Oakley is my husband, Jack Holt's Great Great Great Uncle. Does anyone know when he died and where he is buried? Carol Holt Middle Tennessee