Dear Brother--: Your letter of the 17th inst is just received and was glad to hear from you once more for it is a long time since I had a letter from you. I think the time is beyond the "recollection of the oldest inhabitants" but it is all right now the letter I mean -- and was sorry to hear that you are not well yet, and I hope that you will not get any worse but if you should get any worse try to get home. We are all well at this time so far as I know. Mollie is back to our house again, she is still sewing at Mrs Hershes, but she talks of going home next week. Jack was over this week -- he says the folks are all well -- Shermans wagon train passed through Somerset last week on their way to the west.

they say it was a grand sight -- I have seen some of the 76th Reg. on our streets but do not know when they will be discharged. A part of the 31st is at Columbus. Bill Longsom of the Utica boys of the 31st who had come home on French leave and they told him that they would not be discharged until the Regiment all got back to Camp Chase and that it would likely be the last of July before they would be discharged. Old Mrs Stickle went to Columbus to see her son Charlie last Saturday, she has not come back yet and I do not know whether she saw him or not. We are to have a great time here on the 4th of July coming We intend to give the returned soldiers that are home a free dinner on that day. I can think of nothing else to write at this time & as half a loaf is better than no bread, I will close by hoping that you will soon get home I remain yours as ever

James