Franklin County: David Demus to Mary Jane Demus, February 24,
1864
Summary:
Demus describes a recent battle in Florida where a number of men in his regiment were killed,
including his brother-in-law, William Christy.
Mary Jane Demus
feber the 24th 1864
florady Jackson vill
this Day I tak mi Pen in hand to inform you that i am Well at presen and i hope Whean thes fu lines reach you tha ma finde you in the sam state of healte i am sorry to relate the hard tim that We had We have left morris iland and we landde in the state of florad and We all have had a hard time cince we landed we heave bean in a fite but thank god all ar boys got out but Willam Cristy he Was sot in the battel We sow him Whean he fell but i Cant tell Whear he Was sot but We lost him in a good [unclear: Cos] he Was a brave boy hear feared nothing We had a hard fighte We lost a good meney men out of ar redgment but the [unclear: 8] pensilvany redmen lost a grat meny men John C. Chambers Was kill and john Carl and a grat mey orther of ar men but i Cant tell how all in thes lettres but that Was all that i now frum ar place but the rebbel Was too strong fer us We had retreat a bout 48 mile we had to travel thru Watter and mod fer a bout 4 miles boys all send send thear love to you all give mi love to unkel sol and ant marrey and to [unclear: Janey] gater and tell giney that i have qite drinking Wiskey and qite swearen fer the last to months and i gest get a lon as well With out give mi love to gorge Crist and Ant reachl and tell him that his son Wiley Was in ar Camp to Day and he is Well and hartly nothing more at prest but still reman
yor Dear husben
David Demus
to Mrs Marry Demus Whean you rite Direct yor letter to
hilton Head South Carlina
Porte roal 54th mssvolin tears
but mi Dear i hope that
you Aners this letter as son as you Can but
the reas that i did not rite soner Was
becos the i jest got yor Dear letter a bout 15 minets
be for We lef the Campe and We ar at Jackson vill
now We landed hear last night and i jest
set
Don on the gron and rote
thes
fu lines to let you now how We ar i Was sorry that that i Codden
rit as son as i got yor letter fer i Was so happy to hear frum you and all the rest samel and Jacop and Lou send thear love to and all
the rest
