July the 5 1863

 

            Respected friend I thought that I would write you a few lines to let you know how I was geting along in the world I am as well as could be expected for an old man to be I have some glorious times here with the girls I belive that most of the girls are for the union I was at old turky run on last sunday and I was told that thare was almost a pitched battle amongst the girls and woman Mariah Oceltree was for the union and John Housers wife against it and there was severel others that picthed in on boath sides but there was no blood spilt on either side seceshea was glad to draw off when it come to a / stand we here evry day of some quarels amongst the men and wimen all a round us but there has bin no mischief done yet as I know of and I hope that there will not be any although it has come verry near a jeneral out break I some times think that I would like to be with you boys but when I look around me see the cloud rising in my own place of nativity I feell like spilling my blood on my own soil and in my own state and County if it be nesesary I thought about ten days ago that I would get a good chance to smell powder and see blood run in coal creek township but when those incorigable dammnable hell howns saw that the union men were as well / armed and as redy to fight as they were they caved and are as cam as could be expected there are as many men carry revolvers and knives as used to cary pocet knive and should there be a break mad there will a warm time certain if there is any trouble it will be soon for the enrollment is going on your father is enrolling this township and has had no trouble worth nameing there was only one that refused to be enrolled and he was a half witted fellow we had a good many out to the celebration and had a good time in jeneral bill warner was there yesterday he is home on a furlow he has bin in the hospital about six months and he looks / looks considderablely bleached & alsow saw your gal yesterday the one that lives east of the moun she looked well wel bill keep in good spirits and remember that we are all doing something here for the union as well as those that are in the servise you must excuse me for not writing sooner and I will do next time may be I have a good many to write to I am a little careless so good by give my doubled and twisted respects to all the boys of that division so farewell at present to be continued in the next

                                                                                    John C Dunwiddie

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