[The first two pages of this letter are at the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina. The last two pages are at Duke University]

Camp near Williamsport MD
July the 9 1863
Dear Pappy Ma and Mit
it is once more
that I have the privilige to write you
A few lines to let you know that I
quite well and harty at this time and I
hope that when those few lines reaches
you all they may find you all the same
I must tell you that I have not heard
A word from you in A long time and
I reckond it is the same case with you
know I will try and give you some of the
particulars of our travels and the hard battle
that wee have fought since wee crossed
the Potomac wee marched into pennsylvania
and got in A few miles of the capitol wee
took up camp in the United States Barracks
the town was named Carlisle wee run
the yankes our and took persession of
the place and wee staid thare about two
days then wee took the Baltimore road and
marched to Gettysburg and when wee got thare
wee formed A line of battle and soon
the ball opned and our Brigade made
the attacked wee charged on the yankes
[page 2]
through A open field and the yankes
behind the roack fence and it was
the hardest fighting I ever saw our
onely oficier was killed Lieut Champion
was killed and know I regret to tell
you that Rial Steward was killed after
he was takened A prisioner the yankes
took the best part of our Regt and Brigade
and while they was carring them on to
the rear wee had another line of battle
marched up and shot A volly into the
yankes and the prisioners and A ball
hit Rial in the side the ball went
in one side and came out the other he
lived some 4 or 5 hours after he was
struck he was in his right mind untill
he died some of our boys staid with
him untill he died I never saw him
no more after he went into the fight
Brother burried him he was killed in the
battle of gettysburg adams .Co. P..A
I loved Rial as A Brother and I would
do eny thing that I could for him he
was A brave and knoble young man
but alas he has fallen in the cause of he
beloved Country our loss was auful
[page 3]
and know I must tell you that
it was aufull on both sides wee
drove the yankes over A mile the first
day and took persession of the town
but after that wee couldent move them
eny further I will tell you that I
did not get hurt I shot every one
of my Catridges away witch was 40 rounds
and you may know that was A hot
place and when wee got to hagerstown
wee had to fight again nothing but
yankey Cavelry I run after them about
three miles and I did not get hurt in the fight
[page 4]
I must close for this time I will
tell you that Brother did not get hurt
Uncle James Stone [1] is taken A prisioner again
Rat Fuller [2] was slitely wounded in the mouth
it is not worth while to tell all the names
24 is killed wounded and missing out of our
Co. thare is 45 in the Regt know for duty
about 80 or 90 in all tell Mr Stewart that
I will write him A letter A bout Rial
as soon as I can. I cannot tell you half
in this letter I must Close for this time
hoping to heare from you in A few days
give my love to all of Mr Ellingtons family
I want to see you all very bad and I pray
that this war may end soon so nothing more
at present but remaining your affectionate
Son and Brother J.. F.. Coghill