Franklin County: Joseph B. Sweigart to His Cousin,
July 24, 1862
Summary:
Sweigart tells his cousin that his regiment is close to Richmond and will attack
it very soon. He also describes the atrocities that the rebels have committed
and discusses a family matter.
Cousin
July the 24 1862
Verginia
Dear Cosin
I reseavd your civill
an
welkom
lettar and was very glad indead to hear from yous aul. Whe are within 30 miles of Ritchma and
expect to atact the Rebels at Ritchmond in 4 or 5 dayes. i think their will be som
fiting
don
their but our cos is just. i
must be done and an bound to se it
through. the Rebels are wors
then
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a set of heathren. they take our men and pin
them up aganst
treas with their buynetts
and fire upon our hospitals wheir the sick are. An they have fired on severails
of our flag of truth and whe it
comes to that [unclear:
roust
] i thik it is time to du
somthig it rais my blud
evry time i see sutch things. i
have seem more then i ever
expect to see and more then ever i want to see again.
general pope has gaven orders to take evry
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thing Whe want of the farmers and whe will du so. i think the rebels will not get
mutch on the ground. Whe have
went over that [unclear:
ought of bean
]
dun
suner and the rebels supply would not be so great when
ever whe had to [unclear:
retied
] Why the rebels got their supplies by that is over and tho the war is not over yet and i thik 1 year will not end it but i am bound to see it As far as i can.
uncle david said that aul was rite. he doant
thik hard ataul of [unclear:
youns
]
ataul. he will lend you the money if he doant come home till august. he is promist again that time his discharg. i am in a hury.
you must excuse bad riting. i can not rite
mutch this time. i will rite
more next time. rite soon.
J. B. Sweigart