Camp 23rd Regt.N.C.
near Taylorsville V.a
Dear Mit March 28th 1864
I quickly draw my
pen from its cabbard this morning
and hasten to answer your welcome
letter which came duly to hand
A few days since. its interesting
contents that it contained was
duly noted. and the reson why
I did not respond to your request
sooner was because that I was
compelled to fullfill my duty
that my country demanded of me
and that was I had to go on picket
I have just returned from the
River and back to camp So I
had to Stay A weeak. but thare
is no news Sturring about heare
So you may not expect to be
interested thare is nothing
[page 2]
Sturring in circulation times
are quite dull Well I received
A letter this morning from
Brother which renderd me great
pleasure in reading it over and
hereing that you all ware well
well know for the battle that
you said that Pappa was engaged
in I was well divested at it
I would certainly ben glad to
participated in the finger fight
I can onely imagine how it looked
to see two women on papa and
to think how Falkner jumped
upon Allen . it was then so good
?> so good A man I would
have given enything almost to
have seen the frollick I regret
that I was not thare I would
have given them two women
the chance of Scraching faces for
I am certain that fer would have
flew and before I let them loose
[page 3]
they would have known which
Side of thare bread was butterd
and by the time I throwed my
paws on the side of her head A
time or two she would have ben
proud to have found herself trying toget
away and out of the grasp of my
fingers and as for Allen I would
of taken him after Falkner hit
him and succeded in knocking
him to the ground he had no
buisness to stop nocking he aught
to kept up A perpetual motion
untill he became so weak that
he could not resist in tying
of him. Well Mit I have said
A good deal more about the battle
of Whites Mill than I intended
so Pappa must not let his forces
get cut up to bad he must take
the advantage and find out the
persition and then flank them
so he may be able to hold the battle
field
[page 4]
Well I will tell you some of
my fightting know on last
Wendsday the 23rd wee had A
general frollick than fell A
heavy snow heare which was
in some places waist deep from
that down to nee deep wee ware
on picket and the river devided
our Regiment so wee concluded
to go over and whip them out wee
had to cross on the Railroad bridge
which was very high from the
ground so wee fought on the bridge
and I ware the one to go in front
when wee advanced and in the rear
when wee retreated so I got A good
potion of the snow balls but I captured
the bridge last know I will
draw those few remarks
know in conclusion I will say
I have just baught A fine cap
gave leven $11 dollars for it so
I close hoping to heare from
you all soon give my best
respects to Mr Fullers Family
So I remain as ever your
unchanging and Benevolent
Brother J F Coghill