Written from Spotsylania Court House, Virginia. Letter describes the aftermath of the Battle of Spotsylania Court House.

Spotsylvania Court House Spottsvilvany CH May 20th 1864

Dear mother, I imbrace the preasent oppitunity to let you know that I am well but very tired and dirty; our corps left this place yesterday with the purpose of flanking the enemy and we marched about six mile and had a very bad fight we fought from about 5 oclock until about 9 oclock it was hotest we have been in for some time: we got back here about 3 oclock last night. this is 10 days that we have bin marching and fighting and I have not slept with my boots or cartridge box off in that time. we lost four men killed [and] wounded yesterday. Bittle Thorntin was killed [and] our Maj. Was wounded that is all that you know. I have escaped without so far, but I don't know how soon I may be hit. the battle field presents one of the most horrible scens that I ever witnessed the ground is spoted over with dead bodies men that was killed ten days ago lying there unburried and wounded men lay there for six days. I was on picket last tuesday and I could heare them holowring for water all times in the night but we could not get to them. When we would go to get them the Yankees would fire at us, [and] so they had to lay theare and perish. I got a letter from Sam this morning he was at home [and] had got a horse; Dr. Hamilton is here he expects to stay until the fight is over and I hope that wont be long for I am very tired well I must stop writing for this time so no more at preasant. Your affectionate son R B Dunlap

Written from Warnsburg, Missouri. Letter discusses the murder of their brother Jim (also a Union loyalist) by a member of his own unit and encourages Robert to "change your way of thinking."

Warnsburg Mo July 13 1864

Dear Brother In haste I sent my self this evening to answer youres of the 9th of June which com to house this morning [B_] I was glad to here that I had one brother still alive Brother Jim was stabd by one of the same company belong to on the 5th of the present month an dided on the 9th living 4 days after he was stabd in the brest the knife ranging a little to the right side an entred the right lung the fellow is now in the gard house with ball and chaine to him I don't know what they will do with him I think he ourt to be shot his name is James H Capehurt brother Jim was one of the strongest of radical union men thed could be he an I blonged to the 7th cavalry M. Scott wer here bene fighting rebels evr since 1862 and I expect to fight them as long as I liv Bull I am very sory that you all war solduere, I cant see what you ment for be a rebel an you ar out of the rebel hands I hope you will nevr go back to them any more [?] tiz to all of our intraests to hav the southern confedrcy crushed ten million miles beneath I hope I will liv to see this government freed of Rebels an also of slavry tiz sirntly to all our intraests to hav it so well Bale I hope you will get well an com out west an liv with me I got a letter frm my wife this mrning they were all at home is at otterville

Cooper Co, Mo Well Bale the rebels ar rite smart troble round here thare was a scout of our boys out som five days they had just got back they killed 5 [?]and wonded one we take no prisners in this country we don't recognize them as confedrite solduers they ar nothing but robers an murders an theivs Bale thare is som onest men in the Rebel army I don't think thare was evr any of them in this [?] all they care for is to steel rob an murder this is pretty plane talk but tiz nevr the les so well Brother I will close hoping that you will chang from youre way of thinking I will send you som stamps in this leter

I wold like for you to write to me an tell me whether you hav hard any thing from Mother Cathy an also from Brothers W and Samuel or Thom not hard one word from home since the ware I guest tho they ar all like you Rebel

Well Ball if you write to me a gane direct my letters to my wife at Otterville Her name Mrs Mary Dunlap Otterville Cooper Co, Mo

As I am not long at one plase the head qrts is at this plase you can direct to me if you like I will close hoping to hare from you soon A D Dunlap to Robert B Dunlap