Corydon Ind  July 30/63
 
Dear Cousin
                  I was just studying the
other day whose time it was to write
mine or yours and could not come
to any satisfactory conclusion, when
you letter arrived and as a matter
of course I was the debtor and I have
since found out I owe you two letters
instead of one. I received yours with
the miniature three weeks ago, but
never could manage to sit down and
write. We have had rather exciting
times in Indiana for the last few
weeks, and have had a few of the
miseries of the south pictured to us
though in a small degree. On the
doubly memorable ninth of July a
visit was paid to the citizens of Corydon
and vicinity by Morgan and his herd
of horse thieves.  We heard Tuesday
night that they had crossed the
river and had disgraced the soil of
Indiana with their most unhallowed
feet. Our home gaurds skirmished
with the rebs from the river to C.
and on one of the hills overlooking
the town had a grand battle. The
battle raged violently for thirty
minutes, just think of it! And on
account of the large number of the
rebs we were forced to retire which
our men did in good earnest every
one seemed determined to get out of
town first but which succeeded
remains undecided to this day.
After the general skedaddle, Col.
Jordan wisely put up the white
Flag--and we were prisoners to a
horde of thieves and murderers. I
don't want you to think I am
making fun of our brave home gaards
for I am not in the least,But now
that all the danger is over, it is
real funny to think how our men did
run. Gen. Carrington awarded great
praise to us and we all think that
is something.  What could 350 un-
drilled home guards and citizens
do against 4,000 well drilled and
disciplined soldiers  We did not
even know Hobson was following
him. We sent to New Albany time
and again for help and not one
man or gun did they send us.
Though we have found out since
that it was the fault of Gen Boyle
and not the people of New Albany.
It made Morgan so mad to think a few
Home guards dared to fight his men
I am glad they done it just to spite
him. However they captured most of the
guards and parolled them and killed
three of our men. Father was out fighting
with his Henry rifle but the did not
get him or his gun. One of Morgans spies
was in town three or four weeks visiting
his relatives and some of his men
helped our men to build the intrenchments
I guess none of the rebels down south
are that accommodating are they?  One
of our brave boys run three miles from
the rebels, and really run himself to
death. He stopped at a house and fainted
and never came to.  Dident he deserve
a promotion?  I think that was the
awfullest day I ever passed in my
life.The rebels reported around that
they shot father because he would
not surrender, but it was all a story.
The rebs were pretty hard on the
copperheads but they did not take a
thing from us. The kidnapped our
little Negro and kept him three weeks
but he got away from them and is
now at home safe.  We killed six or
eight of theirs and wounded twenty
five or thirty. I expect you are tierd of
hearing about Morgan so I will
stop. I forgot my letter till so
late this morning, and I have
not got time to write much
more or I will be too late for the
stage so Goodby
                           Attia