Letter to sisters about Battle at Mount Sterling and being a POW

Recipient

Date Written

July 26, 1864

History Referenced

Member of Series

Jonathan Gibson Taylor was 25 years old when this was written.
Jonathan Gibson Taylor died 2 months, 18 days after writing it.
It was written 159 years, 2 months, 7 days ago.
It was a Tuesday.

The can of fruit belongs to H. Vencill
I have not rec'd the money yet but
expect will get receipt soon for same.

Rock Island July 26, 1864
Barrack No. 75

My Dear Sisters,

I have received two letters from Millie one from Sister Clara and one a piece from Aunt Rachel & George. Dear Sister M. I cannot express the extreme pleasure your two letters have afforded, not that their contents were altogether agreeable but that the information was not more rumors that I have been hearing so long.

I am in good health & good spirits as you could expect under the circumstances. Tell Dr. Aunt Rachel that she must not feel slighted because I did not mention her in my former letters. I had heard long since that she & James were at Pa's and also heard of the death of Uncle John & Uncle Sam. I am sorry that I must mention her sad misfortune as I know that her heart is already full of sorrow. Say to Aunt R. that she could not have chosen a present that was more acceptable than the one she selected and that I am a thousand times obliged to her for it.

Dr. Strs. give my love to Pa and insist on him not to expose or exert himself so much, it is not necessary that he should. I have received the box you sent. I assure you that it was rec'd with great delight. You have supplied my wants as well as if I had made my own selection. I got everything you spoke of in your letter & a can of fruit that I have not opened yet. I did not get the letter that came before brothers.

Dr. Sister Clara the reason I have not written sister is that I am not permitted to write more than one letter a week & I wrote to Mr. Davies at Louisville the day before I received your letters. I thought perhaps communication had been interrupted, though, I only wrote for a box of provisions & a thick blanket. Dr. Sister I was so impatient to get something as a change to eat & you have no idea how I enjoyed it. I feel greatly rejoiced to learn that Cousin Tom Mc is still alive.

Say to Mrs. Johnson that I saw Frank the night before the fight at Mount Sterling Ky about 6th of June and have not heard of him since. We commenced fighting about daybreak and I did not see him during the fight.

Your aff. brother
Gibson Taylor

Scans of Letter