Johnsons Island O Nov 4. 1863

 

Dear Sister Libbie,

            My pen is now taken to write a few lines in answer to your kind letter which came to hand this morning

 

            I am glad to hear you are well but I am sorry to say I have been unwell but am now well again

 

            I am sorry to hear that Charley Gallant had his fingers taken off It is certainly very painful besides the loss of his fingers

 

            I expect you had a good time at at the social party I hope you all had a good time and enjoyed it very much

 

Twice the Rebels have come near giving us trouble / Night before last there was 4 rebs got out of the yard and the 5 stuck fast in the hole they commenced under the building and dug down 3 feet and then dug horizotal until they were under the fence then they dug out we caught them by sun rise they made a raft but it was very poorly constructed tied together with a part of their clothing                   We have preaching twice every Sunday and a Sunday School the rebels sometimes have preaching

 

            We do have some grapes on this grape Island Johnson has 10 acres here and they are very good too

 

            I am sorry for John Pritchard and Dave Edwards It is hard work to travell with a corpse and he might have taken some disease 

 

            Cleaning house is nothing new to me for we have a little of it to do every Saturday

 

we have had rain here for a few days past as a common occurrence I am now done with working in the yard. the rebels They average about 6 deaths a week Our wells and cisterns never go dry and we always have plenty of water the news is quite favorable from Charlestown

 

Follie A L Smith of Columbus is at Sandusky I must go over to see her she is one of Mrs Smith daughters she gave you a can of tomatoes to send to me

 

I was quite unwell last Tuesday

 

We now have about 2500 Reb pets in our pen

 

We now got two new recruits this morning and will get more as the fall work is finished 

 

One of Company A boys have died since I wrote to you there are more of them that are quite sick There are lots of ducks here now and some geese

 

You asked if I have heard from R lately I heard from there two or three weeks ago there was no news then you remember I sent you a picture long ago and you said you guessed thought she was old she has been writing ever since sometimes she writes two letters or more before I answer either of them I think I will dry up her letter writing soon if she can not take a hint in any other way

 

            I have been exposed to the small pox but I guess I will not take it 10 or 15 rebels have it

 

I will now close by

 

Saying Farewell kind Sister

 

My regards to Sister Jenny and yourself Write soon  Dave

SOURCES