This has been shared by a fellow researcher who has the original letter, written in brown ink on ecru paper. Thanks Millie! This will be excerpts, since parts not legible enough to make complete sentences out of them: Sept 1867 Dear Brother. I sit down try answer your letter written at California (Missiouri). Though I am not able to write at this time and do my self justice owing to my head which is in pain all the time some twenty days I have suffer abundance. I was afflicted with the brain fever have used the pack some a dozen times and head I kept drenched with cold water which so far has saved my life but not it yet will terminate I am constantly in misery though much better it seems hard to remove entirely. Pollly (Mary Bagwell) is well as she usually is tolerable for her age. There is a great deal of sick- ness not in Texas by far than is common hereabout for this ia ...... Edmonds and Catherine (his dau Mary Catherine married Wm Edmonds) lost a few days ago a son Willy, some 15 years old with fever. I was then bedfast. They broke at one time the fever on him, but it rose again (with water) Edmonds got scared and would have a doctor and give him calamil it corroded the stomach and bowels and killed him Catherine takes it very hard indeed. ....peaceable yet the corrupting influence of the war and camp life remains more or less and is seen among the churches of professed christians...... several was baptized and among them Wiley Edmond who we no/know has been housed in the household of God a great consolation ought to be, to his parents. ...Myself and you(Samuel D) and sister Doyle (sister Mary married Allen Doyle) is all remains now to the thirteen children (of his parents David and Jemima). *Barb