St Anthony Falls October 5 1862 [1]

Dear Brother
I take the opertunity
once more to wright a few lines to
let you no that we are not all ded
altho thare has ben quite a number
people ben killed in this contry
besides some hundred and fifty
womans and children taken prisoner
by the indians some of them ware striped
of thare clothing and left naked the
others striped and got a blanket
and used as they used thare squas
we have got the most of our prisoners
Some of the indians have came in and
brought in some of our prisoners and
gave up them selves our offisers are
trying the indians and have condemned
a part of them I dont no what they will
doo with them yet, the wish of the
people is that they should kill the
hole race of indians
[page 2]
they are making quite a preperation
for war hear they have bought some
fifteen or twenty hundred horses
and expect to get 3,000 for cavelry
horses they have got some 2000
soldiers in the field now and have
some fifteen hundred in the fort hear
we expect 10,000 prisoners hear soon
a great menny people have ben
from thare homes with out taking the
first thing them
I suppose you would like to hear from
me and my family my helth is as good
usual and my girls is well i board with
Laurinda the youngest she maried a
Pierce Hannah is hear to day she
married a Huff he is in the army
they are all well and I hope that
these lines will find you the same
I should like to hear from you and
your famely and all the rest of the
folks especilly Father I have not heard
any of you this summer I dont no but
you are all ded
[page 3]
Winslow and his family is as
well as common they have ben
a little frightoned by the indians
and mooved out a bout ten miles but
have gon back a gain I have not seen
them since the fright
times are lively hear now everybody
can get a nough to do goverment hires
a great menny teams they pay three and a half
dollars pur day and board them that is good
uncle Sam has ordered three or fore
million feet of lumber to repare and build
up the fort Just below here they have
imployed some fifty carpenters now
and if they go on with the work it will
take as menny more

I want you to right as soon as you get
this and let me no how you are all
getting a long tell me how father helth
is and all the rest of the folks
Crops of corn and wheat is good this season
wheat is worth 70 cts that is called high
[page 4]
Excuse my blunders
and wright as son as you get this
your friend and Brother
Perren Getchell

tell Father I have not forgotten him
I would like to see him much but
good By, Joel