Concert Hall Hospital
Montgomery Alabama
October 9, 1864

Mrs. Martha M. McKnight &
Miss L.C. Bentley

I this Beautiful Sabbath morning take the pleasure of writing you a few lines in answer to your very kind letter of the first of this mo. which came to hand Friday evening. I was truly glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well but I can not express my feelings when I read the first page. I am very sorry indeed to hear of the death of my Brother and Sister in the far west for I know they have left a house full of little children and none of them old enough to take care of their home, but when I read the great promise of him who has created them it gives me great comfort for he says I will be a father to the Fatherless and a friend to the widow. I was also very sorry to hear of Cousin Newton McKnight's misfortune in losing his fine mill at the hands of the Yankees and I fear it will not be long before they give our country a call and destroy every thing for it seems as if their whole intention is to burn and destroy every thing where ever they go but I do hope that they will never pass through our country again. They are fighting at Richmond again and I am fearful from the statements in the papers that they are gaining some advantages of our men there it is rumored here that Richmond is gone up already but  I do not believe it though it may be possible. Hood is at Mariettta and Kennesaw Mountain and is going to fortify his position Forest is at Athens holding the railroad and Sherman is cut off. What will be next I can not tell. This leaves me well write again soon and send me Frank's letter.
I close.

CPC McKnight

How does your little turnip patch look