1862 July 11 Camp on Flat Top Mountain, Va.

                  July 11th/62
  Camp Jones  Flat Top Mt
Dear Father
                 Alf Long arrived
in Camp last night
bringing the watch letters &
stockings for me.  I shall
probably be able to
sell the watch it is
however out of repair
but I guess I can get
it fixed.  Gillett wants
me to try his new pen &
I will do it just here
it seems like a very
good one by the way
I will compare it
with mine I like mine
best I got it when I
was in Cin last
winter it is very
large commercial style

[page 2]
well we are still
here but there are
now indications that
we will leave soon
and it is thought
by some that we
will go to eastern Va
Col Hays says he thinks
we will I only hope
it is so. I notice
that although it is
raining to day men
are fast erecting
screens of boughs to
hide our camp as it
can be seen by the
rebels from a great
distance from the
mountains beyond us
I only hope we will
go in to Eastern Va
I wrote to Tom & Eti
a few days ago

[page 3]
The boys of each
company have erected
large Booths of boughs
between their Quarters
which makes it cool
and pleasant and
every evening they have
a dance in some of
companies.  The health
of the regiment is very
good.  All the boys
of the regt call me
Fatty.  How did the
anniversarry exercises
go off  I suppose Mr Scott
now patronizes the school
where do you have so
much clover to cut
so he will see the peaches
this year
I do not know what
you had best do with
the threshing machine unless

[page 4]
have some one run
it I have not seen
John Benton yet about it
How many pounds of
wool have you got?
How much will Mr Gault
get for his wool
I killed a large Rattle
snake a few days ago
he had 9 rattles & a button
I went to work & skinned
him and now have the skin
tanned there are a great
many of them about here
they are ugly customers
Citizens tell of people who
have died from there bites
about here.  I will send
this skin to you by
mail one of these days
I found him out about two
miles from camp Citizens thought
it a terrible thing to see me
skin him Should we move I will
write you immediately Yours truly J.D. Templeton

[upside down in top margin of page one]
P.S. Tell mother I recd her letter

MSS 10317