Camp at home
	July 16 1863

Dear Cousin Dave
	I sit down just after partaking of some dinner to describe to you how your humble 
friends are plodding the pathway of life. Your kind favor of the 2d came duly to hand and 
we hereby try to answer the same. We are in good health and hope most sincerely that your 
famous self may still be found in excellent health. Well Dave I am happy to see that the great 
rebellious city of Vixburg has fallen into the hands of the proper owners at last. I know the 
boys must took great delight in taking possession on the 4th. Oh how I should a liked to been 
there, to see the old stars and stripes hoisted where the stars and bars had lately floated so 
defiantly. But a truce to this vein. C.C. Moore reached home a week ago today. He is on the 
mend slowly. Uncle Neddy started after him but missed each other on the route some place.
	Lingle Waltrip staid with me last night. He looks well. I suppose you are aware that 
he was taken prisoner at Champion Hill is now on parol. I have not heard from Sam Morgan
for some time but I see by my papers that they have driven Braggs forces out of middle 
Tennessee. I saw a letter from Bill Henson. The 38 was then at or near Decherd Station. 
They were skirmishing with the enemy and had been for three or four days. None hurt in the 
38. E.P. Charnes is still in the hospital at St Louis. He is a nurse. Well Dave raids seem to be 
the order of the day and even the state of Hoosier is not free from the marauder. Raid no. 
one into this part was made by Capt Hines and about 70 men. They penetrated as far as Paoli. 
They were all captured with the exception of five or six. Raid no.2 was made last week by a 
force of five thousand commanded by the redoutable old Morgan. They took Corydon Salem 
and some other small places and stole a smart chance of money and horses and tore up the 
railroad in various places. The latest I hear from him, he had got into Ohio. I must now quit 
and go to plowing and finish some other time.
	17th  Resume my task of writing if you can call such scribbling as this writing. Corn 
looks tolerable well in general and every thing bids fair for an abundant crop. The Connexion 
-- are all well as far as I know at present with the exception of Uncle Sam. He has the 
Eresypelas on his side. Dave I tell you that religion is at a low ebb at present amongst this 
part of the moral vineyard. I hope you will be so kind as to give my best wishes and 
respects to all of the boys of my accquaintance that you chance to see.
	Our last quarterly meeting on this circuit will be at the Scarlett school house next 
Saturday and Sunday week. And the Saturday following there will be a quarterly meeting 
at Hickory Grove on the Haysville Circuit. Your unworthy cousin is superintendent of the 
sabbath school this summer. I suppose that you have heard of the death of Julian Huffar. 
Poor fellow, he is gone from us forever. He died from a wound received at the battle of 
Anteitam.
	Nancy Ann sends her love and kind respects to you and to all enquiring friends if 
there should chance to be any. Dave you must excuse this bad writing and make proper 
allowance for a crippled soldier once more turned farmer. The weather has been very 
wet for some time past but the rain has now ceased and the sun has begun to make 
vegetation in general want another shower.
	Well Dave there is some as rank sesesh in this country as any there is in the 
Southern Confederacy and I sincerely hope that the time will speedily come when they will 
be compelled to either take up arms in the cause of government or be sent across the lines 
to their tutors. Davis Vallandigham and others and when they get done with them I think 
there is no doubt but they will find there future destination with their father the Devil. Now 
I suppose that I must soon bring my uninteresting scribble to a wind up and I hope you will 
not forget to drop an occasional line to unworthy I. Oh Dave I forgot to state that there had 
been a great revival of religion among the troops of Rosas Army. I must now close. 
Please write soon.

					Truly Yours
					Wm A Hoggatt

				W.A Hoggatt to D.S. Morgan


	Ed Harner is at the Lawson Hospital St Louis Mo and would be most happy to hear from you.

						Finis