Dononison vill. on the Banks of the Missippa

july 17^th 1863. thar is A fort hear cald fort Butler

 

good morning, Frank & Eliza & Mary. A. Delia & all of the Rest of the folks in oxford & Round A Bout thear tell them I am on the Banks of the misissipa in A heavy fog writing this letter & happy as A clam we have got the Rebels surrounded on all sides Betwix hear & oppolusous & Brashear City so tha cant git Back into texas A gain the union men drove them out of texas while Banks army was at port hudson & now he has got them whear he wants them he ses. I suppose when the three armeys march on ouponn them thear will Be some puty hard fiting proberley A grate meny lives lost I ma Be one of them if it should Be so you must do the Best you can for your selfs that is all I can say But thear is one thing Frank I want you should Remembear that is the peace Democrats & the Copper heads ar trators to the union & thear country I want you to dispise them as you would A trater Remember this as long as you live tell them if I git kild that I fought for the union like A Brave solger & not A trator like them if it had not Benn for our northen / trators this war would Benn closed oup Before this time tha are the cause of A grate meny lives lost & Brave solgears fiting for the union and the Rising generration I have got one Boy I should Be vary sorry to have him Become A trator to his country & union. my farthear fought for his country & why I should not fight to maintan it free ounto all generation to come arfter me & frank I want you should do the same stick for the union as long as time last. I suppose I have got A Brother is partley in favour of the peace Democrats & Copper heads I dont wanter Bring my Boy oup in that way I had drother see him Die on the Battle field fighting for his country & union I cant see how farthers can hold thear sons Back from fighting for the union when our forfarthers fought for ous. & now some of them tell thear Boys to distroy it. Cus such men tha outer Be shot write Down dam them. when I Die I Die for my country & the union, not for A little mony to leave for thear childern & let the union go to the Devel what tha cair sutch men outwer Be hung in gibets & Remain thear till tha Rot that is what I think A Boutit. I Remain your friend & friend to my country show this to all I want tha should know how I feel for the union Asa Holmes

 

[verso margin upside down] have David Bixby read this letter & tell him to cus all peace Democrats & Copper heads

 

[recto margin upside down] Direct your letters as you have all ways to New orleans

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