Cross Creek Village  

Washington Co Pa     

Octo the 11^th 1861

 

Mr John Lyle

                        Dear Cousin It is sum time since I have writen to you as you to me. and I must now breake seilence. in the first place it must be my painful duty to inform you of the death of Aunt Jane Lyle. she died on yesterday evaning Octo the 10^th about 4 Oclock. she was taken with sunthing like Disintery on the 23^rd of sept. But it soon turned to Fever and she went down verry fast. she was sencabel apparently all the time and could talk and converse to all that came in. But she told them when she took it it would be hir last sickaness / She took it in the morning whilst she was makeing up hir bed. Uncle David is sum better than he was sum days ago he was abel to ride up to the grave yard to day in the carrage. the woman that has been living with them is taken sick to day and is in bed and we are affraid she is takeing the same complaint

 

Theare is a good many cases of the same up on Buffalo—but it is generally helthey about here still sum cases of sore throat amongst the children. Theare was a young man of the name of Walker went from here to the Army to Washington City he took the Disintery / and camp fever and died they brought him home and berried him in Cross Creek on yesterday. it was the largest funeral that was ever seen theare he was a member of our Company of home Gards and was the best fifer that could be found. We berried him with the Honours of War We have a splended Company here of home Gards We got on our arms this week they are what they call the Minney Rifle with sword Bayonet the are worneted to shoot strait 1000 yards we will give them a trial on nex day of drill and I tell you theare is sum good shots in our Company 

 

But I must conclude my letter for this time

 

Write soon and tell me all the news of your part. Give my respects to all the rest of your family                                                                                          

 

Your friend

James Simpson

 

 

John Lyle

Jamesimpson

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