James F. Dodds, Bloomington, Ind. to Andrew Wylie, Jr.

              Bloomington, Inda, July 31st 1868, Dear brother, I write to you, partly, on a little matter of business-On the 6th of Decr 1866, I sent an appn to the Treasury Dpt for the $100 allowed by Act of Congress to the certain specified legal heirs of soldiers who lost their lives in the late War. Sometime thereafter I recd notice that the appn had been recd & would, in due time, be examined & if anything were due, it would be forwarded, etc. (I cannot now lay my hand on the circular or letter), Prof T. A. Wylie, about the same day, made appn in consequence of the loss of his son (R.D.W.) He informs me that he recd some 6 or 8 months ago, a draft for the $100. My son (S. W. D.) was in the same Co. & Regt (Co H 18th Regt Inda Vols). Both died (of disease contracted in the service) near the same time (Oct & Nov '61), in the same state (Mo). The circumstances all were very much alike & the appns were made out in the same way. I employed no Atty to attend to the case, but filled out the blanks myself in, as I supposed, legal & proper form & manner & myself & wife were sworn to the facts & statements by the Clerk of our Circuit Court. I directed the papers to The Treasurer of U.S. 2nd Auditor's Office. Why the matter has been so long deferred or delayed I am at a loss to know. Had any further declaration or testimony been necessary I suppose I would, ere this, have been so informed.