Franklin County: Joseph B. Sweigart to His Cousin, July 24, 1862 — Letters

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.

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 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 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