[handwritten transcription of document DL0526.16, edited by the transcriber]

 

                                                                                                Donalson vill july 17^th 1863

 

Good Morning, F… and E… and M… and all the rest of the good folks in Oxford and around about there. I am on the Bank of the Mississippi in a heavy fog writing this and happy as a clam. We have got the Rebels surrounded on all sides between here and Opelousas and Brashier City so they cannot get back into Texas again. The Union men Drove them out of Texas while Banks Army was at Port Hudson and now Banks has got them where he want them, he says I suppose when the three divisions march upon them there will be some pretty hard fighting probably a great meny lives will be lost. I may be one of them if it should be so you must do the best you can for your selves—

 

But there is one thing F… I want you should remember, that is the Peace Democrats and Copperheads as traitors to the Union and their Country. I want you should dispise them as you would Traitors. Remember this as long as you live, and tell them if I get killed that I fought for the Union like a brave soldier and was not a traitor like them. If it had not been for our northern Traitors this war would have been closed a year ago, they are the cause of the loss of a great many lives being lost of brave soldiers that are fighting for the Union and the rising Generation. I have but one boy and I should be very sory to have him become a Traitor to his Country and the union. my My Father fought for our Independance, and for his Country and why should I not fight to mentain it—. And F… I want you should do the same stick to the union as long as life lasts. I suppose I have got one Brother partly in favor of the Copperheads or Peace Democrats. Now I dont want my Boy to be brought up in that way. I had rather see him die on the Battlefield—fighting for his Country and the union. I cant see how Fathers can hold their sons back from fighting for the union when their Fathers fought for it, / now some of them tell them to distroy it. Curse such men they ought to be shot down dead,……….., when they open their mouths for such treason. If I die I shal die for my Country and the union not for a little money to leave behind and let the union go to the Devil. what do such narrowminded men care, such men ought to be hung in jibbits and remain ther until they rot that is what I think about it. I remain your Father and friend and friend to the union and my Country

 

                                                                        To my son F A H

 

                                                            From his Father A. H.

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