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(we had 65 bus of wheeat)
Cedar Grove August the 25, 1864
Dear Brothers,

I recived a letter from you a bout a week a go but havent wrote to you til now. we are all well but Vince is walks lame he has ben sick a good while his hip hurt him a while it dont hurt him now but he is lame hayes I have got the best news you ever heard and bad news too, we got a letter or Grandpa did from Charles M. Browning he was sick but getting well fast he said he had a good doctor he is at fort delleware with Rives he said Rives was well and doctor light foot & doctor Mallicaat was prisonors at fort dellaware and they was exchanged they got here a few days a go and they say that the yankees treat our men verry bad if you could see the Abingdon paper you would see what dr. lightfoot said he said our men was starving at fort dellaware and he said that some body told him that our men was mashing old bones that had been laing their for days to get the marrow to eat kind brother I hate to tel you sutch news but it seemed like I could not help it we havent got any letter from Rives yet hayes you all are living well [ ] what Rives and them boys are you not to forget to thank your maker for his kind blessings. I havent told you the good news yet, Charles M. Browning said he had professed Rreligion since he left home I recon he got religon after they was taken prisonor for Barnette never wrote anything like that, poor Rives I recon he was all most glad that Charles was a prisonor with him I know therer was great Joy when they met Granpa said he was a going to write to John Browning to send Charles & Rives some money. some body sent James henritsey some money & clothes from New York. lafayette said Rives & them boys did not have any money when they was taken prisonor. it they had money they could but some things to eat hayes they had a toleberl good meeting at furgersons Chapel it lasted from saturday til tuesday Aunt Nancy & Uncle horten professed and Cousan Marget & Nancy but nancy is in a bad fix she goes on a good eel some times she thinks she hasent got religion they he will send her a bout some I think from home they are uneaseey a bout her hays sarah got letter from you the other day uncle Vince has ben gon nearley two week to see Mr litton that belongs to your Co. he said he was a going to see you all Charles wrote to Granpa that he had a Mother & a sister in heven and he thought some more finds that he was red to meet and said to granpa that he wasnts to meet him their if he never got home. I wish you & Cum would write as good news as Charles did
Martha J. Gilmer