Blakesburg May 2d
​                                       Thursday

My Dear Father

            Your last letter has been recd I have delayed writing for various reasons. This country is all excitement preparations for war are going on vigorously. Our Clerk has enlisted and I was left for a time almost alone.

            There are many Secessionists here but they do nothing but talk.  More than one half the Democrats here exhibit no patriotic feeling but on the contrary express sympathy for southern treason.  I speak for our immediate vicinity. Our Country and State is a unit almost for the Stars & Stripes.

            We have formed a Home reserve Guard, but many Dem. would not join for the reason they were required to subscribe to an oath to support the Government. – From our place to the Mo line there are many Communities of similar sentiment they do very little openly but we know little of their dark lantern operations.

All such men will be crushed before the elapse of much time. I am sorry to inform you that My, no I wont own him the Father of my wife, is a rampant secessionist and declares his willingness to fight for the South

He was married last Fall in Cleveland Ohio to a woman of some wealth from Rochester N Y His wife is Sister or some near relation of Beebee of the Banner of Liberty published in N.Y. formerly an ultra Pro-Slavery Paper and now, unless recently shut up is for Secession He voted for Breckinridge. but it surprised me to think He could be fool or knave enough to hold the sentiment he does his sons and son in laws are all true Union Men.      

I gave him my opinion in pretty strong terms the other day and told him that ties of consanguinity would be no restrant upon me when it becomes necessary to crush traitors. and I thought if we couldnt put it down at Home it was folly to go South

The Doctor my Brother in Law – Mr Blake and myself have a Shooting Gallery where we practice daily we are getting to be pretty good shots with our revolvers.

Business is nearly suspended money being out of the question all Ill. currency is refused and Mo. is hard to pass.

Lawrence was here Friday and Saturday. He came for assistance to obtain the Hannibal P.O.  The traitors in Hannibal would not permit Miller, the man appointed take the office, and he proposed to give Lawrence his chance for $500.00 Lawrence thought he could obtain possession if he had the Commission I gave him $300.00 He could get the remainder of friends in Hannibal.  The office.