Vandermark, Hiram Letters (1861-1865)

              [page 1]
the 6
Key West Fla September 

Dear Cusen it is with grate plazuer 
that I take my pen in hand to 
inform you of my helth it 
is not very good at the presant 
time but I hope this will find 
well and the best of helth you 
letter was dated August 13 I was 
glad to git A letter from you 
and to her that you was well 
and harty and tuff you sed that 
Granmother Varus was deade O 
that she was A Chrsten if 
she was she will be hapy you 
wanted I shud tell you worther 
I was in the Dor dance not so I will tell 
you the truth about it I was 
not their thay tride to have 
me gow but I told them 
that it wood be nothen 
but to fite Cherles H. Smith

[page 2]
He was thire to the ball 
he help git it up he went 
to nore then 40 digs he is 
all plade out with me he is 
not the man that I thought 
he was you wanted I shud tell 
you who I thought that som 
boy is that you cud git to waite on you now I will tell you 
I have got won pict out and 
I will tell you his nam it is 
John L Jackson he never goes 
to eny boals nor eny spres 
he don’t drenk eny wiskey 
he is A onest fellow in 
my way thinking I have hade 
A good eal of deal with 
him won time and A nother 
I gis I will bring out with 
me when I com if I Can git 
him to com I hant sed eny 
thing to him bout it 
yet worther he wad gon 
or not with me to Meatts 
Cornrs

[page 3]
We can git all kinds of fruits 
her that is in world it wont 
take me all of won day to 
tell you the deferent kinds of 
fruits that is her ther is lots 
of young wimen in Key West Fla 
the streets is lind with them 
evry eving I wod like to be 
ther eat appels with you and 
the rest of the frends of my 
aquantes the rest of our men 
aire in Tartugas, Fort Jefferson 
Flairda ther is for of our Co 
her in key West A duin 
pro vast duty I dont her 
nothen new about our goin home  
they cant keep us onley till 
October and then our time is 
out and then they will hafto 
Cent us home you did not say 
eny thing About Nancey I hant 
had A letter from her in A 
long time I would like her

[page 4]
From her I gess that she has 
got mad at me about sothen 
I cam A Comen out ther and 
see all of my Cusen gest as 
sun as I git hom that is if 
I ever live to git home the wether 
is afel hot and warm you my 
set still and swet your 
self to deth and ther is A nother 
thing the meerceters is afel thick 
they wont let you A lone day 
or nite the fles is bad to and 
ther is all kinds of Criters enceaks 
to bother eny won key West is 
worst plase that I ever was 
in it is so lomsom her your 
letter is dated August the 13 
it had bin A long time 
Cence I have herd from you 
I hant got eny thing to Cend 
you must Exques this letter 
you must rite as sun as you 
git this this letter and tell me 
all the nus this is from Christopher 
Dennis to Phebe Dennis so good bey.