Camp 23rd nc Troops
Rockville V..A
July the 14 1863
Dear Pappy Ma and Mit
I am once more blest
with the privilige of writing you A few
lines in answer to your most welcome letter
which you wrote on the [6?] and you cannot
tell how glad I was to hear from you
all and to heare that you all was well
this leaves me well and harty at this
time well Mit I wrote you A letter
A few days ago giving you the particulars
of the terrifick battle that I was engaged
in. I will commence telling you know
something about our travels wee have had
A long and tiresome March over the mountain
the letter you received from me was written
at chambersburg P..A and from thare wee
went to Carlisle United States Barracks
that was the place whare the U..S
Regulars staid in before this war broke
out it was A nice place good house
to stay in good water and ice A plenty
as long as wee staid thare and wee took
persession of thir gardens wee ran the yankes
away from thare and they left us it
[page 2]
So when [???????????] [???] [1]
[being?] [??????????] shoes and
then I [???????????] [???]ed and
are [the?] [?????????] thank god that
I have [???????????] to [???] once
more [?????????????] and unhurt
and to [????????????] under my shelter
while it [????????????] it is reported
here that the yankes have taken Vicksburg
and our soldiers are [????] near give up
all hope of ever whipping the yankes
but I hope that [???????] conquer and
come out ??????????>
So I ??> my letter to A close
[?????????????????????????????????] [unreadable at fold]
[???????] I tell you that I have
not heard from Uncle James Stone
since he was taken A prisioner and thare
was 24 killed Wounded and missing in our
company and thare is know about 125
men in the Regt so nothing more
at present so write soon and often
i remain you affectionate son
and Brother J,,F,,Coghill

back your letters to Richmond
untill you hear Fromm me
again