July the 26 1861

Dear Brothers,

I take the opportunity this morning to rite you a few lions to lett you know that we are all well. This is Thursday I thought I would rite some today for pa starts to town as son as he eats his dinner every male day. I can finish writing so if uncle vincent has left you I know you …like you want to hear from home, we recived your kind letter yesterday I could not tel you how glad we was to get a letter from you and was afraid to read it for fear this was such bad news in it it was bad indeed I recon you would us love be dead as alive in the fix you are in. I do not see how you both have stood it so well. you all burnt and cut your blankets up to keep the yankees from getting them that is what he heard we are going to send you a blanket a pace. howards are talking about taking some wagons of blankets. Ma was a going to town to get you both a calico shirt apace but heard such bad news before you rote she did not go if we knew whether uncle Vincent got you any shirts or not we would know whether to make you any or not if you want any shirts and pants or any think rite soon Capt McIlhaneys uniform will start soon you aught to a rote in your last letter if you wanted any thing we would send you both some clothes any how but if you have a too smiles a pace that would be as much as you would want maby we will send you some socks

I recon the cowards feal mean since they heard about you all being in the fix you are in if they have any feeling if they had a went off with you all to fight for ther homes maybe you could have managed them you had a nagh union people a round you to fight with out the yanks if you go back to larelhill to run the yankees of I want you all to kill all the wimen kill them that brought beanes and milk and ever traiter you see. I am in hopes you all that did fight will not have to fight in the next battle. I want you both to be prepared to die the goodman loves you and you both aught to love him and pray to him often. The people here have to volunter or be drafted pa talks like he could not do without hayes. I don’t see how he will do without hayes and reed both hayes wants to go he sayes he is not satisfide at home and

He sayes he might as well be at war as you both, nothing more at presant but good by to both this time rite soon

J E Gilmer                                                                                                                                     your affectnait

W R Gilmer                                                                                                                                    sister & pa ma

                                                                                                                                                        M J Gilmer

I got pa to rite some