I finally managed to wiggle my way into the Transylvania County Joint Historic Preservation Commission Archives Committee. This means I get a key and don't have to limit my visits to Wednesday afternoon!! It also means that I officially volunteer every Wednesday Afternoon from 2:30-4:00. We dig around through the stacks and find some real goodies on occassion. So I decided that every week I will post something for you. This week we have a letter from John Brackin. This is a transcription done by Martin Mason and is included in the Mason Collection at The Transylvania County Historic Preservation Commission Archives. A note on the side of the letter says the letter is courtesy of Alvin D. Owen, son of Harrison & Roxie Hoxit Owen. Rock Island Prison Ills this august the 12 1864 Dear Brother and Sister, this day seat my self to rit you a few lines to let you no that i am yet in the land of the living hopping these lines may reach you and find you all well / have nothing of interest to rit to you at the present time me and brother James is well / would like to see you all and here what you had to say by this time, tho, it has bin A long time since I left that part of the country tho I hop that the time will soon come when fear will have been mad small Sorrow be turned into day all over the land and nation and the men return to ther respective homes and injoy the comforts that tha had had here to fore tell fathers folks that i am well and doin the best that I can and I want you to rit to me as soon as you can and tell all the rest to rit and let me no how you ar doin rit Short letters or tha will not com inn the prison Direct to John Brackin a prisoner of war Rock Island Ills Barick C signed: John Brackin -- Linda Hoxit Raxter lraxter@citcom.net Western North Carolina Cemeteries and More! Alexandra's Family Tree House http://www.rootsquest.com/~alextree related to at least half the county at least once ; )