Augusta County: J. F. Coghill to Pappy, Ma and Mit,
June 25, 1863
Summary:
J. F. Coghill writes to his family about recent military movements and his
experiences in the Confederate Army on the way to Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Coghill comments directly on Chambersburg and the panic of the local citizens
upon the arrival of Confederate troops.
June the 25th 1863
Camp near Chambersburg Pennsylvania
Dear Pappy Ma and Mit
I seat myself once more to write you a few more lines to let you know that I am well and harty and I hope that when those few lines reaches you they may find you all the same I haven't writting to you all in a good while nor haven't heard from you since I left Culpepper and thare I wrote you a letter giving you all the news up to that time but after that time wee came very near having a fight thare but it turned out so see did not fight and then wee took up our line of march and marched to Berresville and thare wee found 1600 Yankes and wee flanked their breastworks but when wee marched up to fight they ware gone so wee did not get them but wee continued the march and wee soon got to Bunker's Hill whare General Jinkins had a fight killing two of the enemy and wounding 11 and took 16 prisioners and the Yankes wounded two of our men wee drove them to Martingsburg and wee rushed in there and run them out wee captured a piece of artillery and a good deal of provisions but they run so that wee did not get them so the next day wee marched and waded the Potomac and then we were in Williamsport Md and then wee came to Hagerstown and thare wee took up camp bud did not stay long thare before wee started again and when wee got to Middleburg wee ware in Pennsylvania and the next town was named Greencastle and you may believe that the people was very near skerd to death but wee treated them with respect and yesterday wee marched through Chambersburg and it is a very nice place but in thare I found a good meny disbanded soldiers from the Yankes army the militia here is going to fight us I suppose but wee will not stop for them I reckond wee will go to Harrisburg the capital of this state and thare wee will have to fight I guess but General Lee sais that he has got the Yankes just whare he wants them it has been a grand move in our army Brother Fuller is gone out on skirmish so I have to close his letter. Un Jimmy Stewart is well and and harty send werd to Aunt Mary that Un Junuis is well and he has n't time to write. The militia is coming so I am in a hurry so you must excuse me for writing so bad. I will close for this time. Sister you must not be uneasy about us for we are all well and are doing well Give my love to all the friends. do write soon direct to Richmond
from your brother
J F Coghill
p.s. we must leave
[Note at bottom of transcription:
"(This must have been finished by Grandpa's brother who was also in the
army. There is a different handwriting at the end of the letter. Notice the
wording of the letter also.)"]
