[Eller’s son John served as a private in Co. F, 37th NC Inf. According to the 1860 Census, Mariah Eller could not read or write.]

Wilkes County N C June the 1st 1863

Honrable governer Vance
I beg leave to addres you a few words
by line the subject that i wish to speak to you
about is concening the money that has ben
appropriated to this County for the use of
the solediers wifes and mothers and the
maner in whitch our Agents are about to
treat some of us I had only one son and
he volunteerd in the second co of this County and was
attacht to the 37th Reg there he served his caintry
untell he died now William Masten our Agent
<??> denies me the priveilige of this law on the
account that I never was maried I went to
mr Joseph Hacet to By grain to do me tell my
Harves cum in he said he could Let me have none
but advised me to go to the Agent for I had
as good a right to my share as any one els William
Hubard gave me a certificate concerning my
claim but it was refused for the above stated
reson mr Hacet a Hubard knows my circumstan
ces with many othes of the good sitizens of the
County and they know that I raised my son to be
industrous I did not rais him to lead a idle life
as manny do and he was a dutiful son to
[page 2]
me but he is not in [???????????] now I am trying
to make my own support but I must have some

aid untell my harvest cums in so I
wish to know whether or not Esq Mouston
has a right or the power to [?]ill the law or
mistreat its subJects for my son knew nothing
els But to obey me and the laws of his country
<?> like an honrable man he died in its sirvice
and if the law dose not support sutch mens
mothers why dosit take them away from home
to fight and die as there is manny sutch man now
in the armey and if we their mothers are not
to recieve any thing they should be sent home and
let them go to work for our country is in a starvin
ng condition for the most of the men that are
laying back at home sutch as Agustus Lindsy
and maney sutch like men have have becum so selfish
as to ask 12 dollars a bushel for corn and other
artinclas according they say thay are tired out
at the cry of the the poor those are awful expres-
sions if they are of then let them change places
with them sutch work is what causes so maney
deserters the poor cannot bare sutch tretment mutch
longer ples send me an answer whether sutch women
be allowed thing or not if you do not wish to answer
me you may answer to W R H esq for I
all I say no more Marier Eller to Mr Z B Vance
at present