[corresponds to page 1 of letter from Andrew Altman to John Altman
March 25th 1862]
[upper left corner illustration of "SECESSION WEB" showing a spider
drawing flies identified as states into its web]
March the 25 th 1862
My Dear
Father I
Take my pen
in hand to
let you know
that i am
well and
hope that
these few lines may find you
well and harty. You Can See the
picture of Jeff Davis if you cant
see him him self, there was a
secess [secessionist] deserted up here where we are
expecting a battle and e came here
and gave him self up he said
that Jeff made a Speech and
he herd it. he Said, now boys
i want you to fight bravely
for if we get whipped here we
are rew ind [ruined] for life that was
Jeff Davis Speech.