Camp 23rd NC Regt
Madison Corthouse Va
July 31st 1863 .AD.
Dear Sister
I received your most welcome
letter this morning dated the 11 and I asure
you that it was perused over carefully and I
was glad to heare that you all was well. this
leaves me well and harty. well Mit you said
that you wanted to hear something about
Rial and how he died I cannot tell you
but very little about it for the last time
I saw him was when wee formed A line
of battle and then I was calld for to go in
front and I went on and soon opned the
fight then our Brigade came in to our suport
and faught like heros for some time
without any aid or assistance wee ware
compeld to surrender but in the [??????] [1]
I was on the left of the Brigade keeping
the yankes from flanking our line but
when the yankes had capsuerd our men
I was orded to get away if I could so
I came out saft and unhurt and Rial
was taken A prisioner and was killed
[page 2]
while he was going off ove the field so
I did not see him eny more but I reckond
that he was willing to die and as for your
picture I canot tell what became of it
well Mit orders has just came that wee
have got to leave so I cant write eny
more at this time I do not know
whare wee will go to so I must
close hoping to heare from you
all soon so nothing more but
remaining your benevolent brother
J,,F,,Coghill
I have not time to
tell you eny thing
more about it
A August the 1 186[3]
Dear Mit after being hurried of yesterday evening
before I could finish my letter I will try and
write you S few more lines to let you know
whare I am. wee are know in A mile of Orange –
-Courthouse in camp but I cannot tell how long
we will stay hearer wee have had A hard days
march and A hot one to. know I will tell you
something more about the things that you wanted
me to write your picture I cannot tell what became
of it and as for letters I dont suppose he had eny
but what he had in his pocket Book and I have
got that and his two rings them I will take good care
of untill I can send them to his dear pappy and Mother
whom he loved and know for his watch after he was
shot down some of our men came across him and asked
him for his watch and he refused to give it up and
he told the man that he wanted it himself so the man
took it of ove him and that is the way it went
well Mit I must close for this time I will write you
A long letter in A few days if we stay heare I have just
ben grazing on blackberries so I close hoping to heare from
you all in A short time So I remains as ever your kind
and loving Brother J.F. Coghill to A.E. Coghill