[draft] Drummondtown Va Aug 15 1863 Dear father I received your letter yesterday and was very glad to hear from you and learn that you was well, one of our men was shot dead and another one wounded in the ancle night before last the man that was killed was named Linsey and one that [was] wounded was named Kerrigan the way of it was this - our fellows bought about 150 wattermellons of a nigger and he come after the boys to come and get them and we took the waggon and went and got to a mans house and the darkey said he wanted to go in a minute he went and did not come out again and 4 of our boys went up to the house to see if the nigger had any right to sell the melons and as they was opening the gate to go into the yard there was four or five shots fired at them from behind trees and from the house one hit Kerrigan in the ancle and one hit Linsey in the stommach and he ran about 200 [yards] and got over a fence and died, they took him [and] carried him back to camp and buried him next day we arrested the man and his son just as he was agoing [to] leave, he owned up twas him that shot and said he would like to shoot as many more and would if he got the chance it was much as the officers could do to keep the boys from hanging him on the spot. he was sent to Fortress Monroe and will be hung in a few days we took all his horses and Mules and every thing we could lay our hands on and disarmed all the citizens in the naborshood [neighborhood] we got about a cart bord of guns and pistols we got one old gun 11 foot long and waid 30 pound. and maid a nigger mark time till he couldnt stand up we all boad [board] to the hotel now we give our rations and $2.50 a month for pay we get butter and milk in our coffee and every thing we want. I would like to have a paper sent once in a while. A tribune vs or Herrald, give my respects to Mr. Rawley and Mr Pan I dont know of any thing else to write so good by write soon from you son G. A. Spencer Co. I 7. Regt R. I. Vol Drummondtown Va