Camp four miles below Winchester Va
Dec 8th 1861
Dear Brother Phillip
I have selected this
present opportunity of answering your
kind and welcome letter which, which Pa
fetched down with him when he came I
was glad to hear that you all was well and
was a getting along so well with the corn. I
was glad to hear that the Ladies was well
There isent much news down here to interest
you, I have gotten well again, and can hard-
ly stop eating I have such a good appetite. I was
write porely for some four days on week before
last, I suppose you and Miss Fannie gets along
as well as ever, I dont hear much said of
a fight here in this section of country, I herd
that there is a fight expectted at cenersville, I
hear that the Feoderal forces are advancing on
Centervill and throwing up brest works as they
advance but when they get there they will
find it well fortified there it will take a powe
-rfull force to whip us away from Centers
-ville, if you could only see them. John is here
with us now he got a share of everything
that you all sent to us, I and the Dr and
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John we all relish those eatibles
frustrate I told Quack Dr to write to Lizzie
as you requsted me to do. I should like
to have the privalege of coming home to see
you all, please excus all misstakes and bad
writing and spelling for I am subject to
that sort of work, give my love to all inqui
-ring friends, relation and acquaintences
write soon and a long letter and give
me all the news in the whole neighborhood
I am well at present, and hope these fiew
lines may find you all enjoying the same blessing
from your devoted Brother,
Daniel J. Hileman