Camp Wright July 5^th /61

                                                                                                                       

Dear Scholar

it is with pleasure that I address you for the first time through the instrumentality of pen ink & paper I recieved your letter on the 3^d and I was glad to hear from you; I am glad to have it to say that I have at least one Scholar that has not forgotten me; that must have been a pretty big catfish you caught; it is a wonder it did not pull you into the water you had better take care or you will get hold of one some of these times that will pull you in (turn over) /

 

Dallas I'll tell you honestly I would like to have helped you to eat that fish; well I must tell you a little about the fourth of July it was pretty noisy a while before daylight; they shot 26 rounds out of the old canon & the Erie Regiment one grand round I tell you Dallas it made a good deal of one thousand muskets going off all at once; there were not many people here from Lawrence County; there were a good many people here from Pitt—In the evening all the soldiers in camp were called together; and marched out of camp into the woods / about half a mile from camp Where the declaration of Independence was read after which Colonel Graham made a speech; the health of our Company is good there has only been one or two a little sick since we came to camp; I must close this short epistle for I must write another letter or two today this leaves me in good health and I hope it may find you enjoying the same blessing Write soon and give particulars; we have not got our guns & horses yet tell Jackson & Hiram to write to me & mind & write yourself I will / any letter you send me No more at present but I remain your affectionate friend & well wisher untill death separates us;

 

To Dallas Bender From Jo Reed

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