Swisher, Daniel, fl. 1861-1863 to sister [Lydia A. Bishoff]

Swisher reports that since the last time he wrote, there has been a "Considerate Skirmish" and that the "3rd and 4th of July Did not go off as nice as it did Last year." On the 4th of July, Swisher's regiment suffered one casualty and three wounded. Swisher remarks that he would have liked to have gone to the party Bishoff hosted on the 4th, and to have seen "all the pretty little Girls step around over the floor," for he has "not seen a woman for so long it is almost a show To see." According to Swisher, if his regiment happens to march through a town, the women all go into their houses, lock the doors, shut the window curtains, and keep still. Swisher explains that the Union troops sometimes "have a party with the Rebels here," which lasts an entire day, but the Rebels generally "Comes out Second best." Swisher reports that there are gunboats firing on Richmond that sound like distant thunder, and he believes there will be a fight before nightfall. He tells Bishoff to write often because the mail travels quickly (on the 10th, he received the letter she wrote on the 6th). He instructs Bishoff to inform all the pretty girls that he expects to get home to see them. He tells "Lyd" he would like to see her but "times is so we cant." Written at a camp fourteen miles from Richmond.