Morganton Burk County
Dear friend as I June 7th 1863
now must take you to be I
now pen you a few lines to inform you of my
situation to ask you if you will be so kind as to
answer this and let me know my dependance my
husband was in the 35th Regt now is dead james gradie was
his name I am now left with 4 children
large enough to nurse the other and nothing allowed
me at all and nothing at all up here to make money
and I have had to pay for every thing I have had
since my husband left me and my funds has the
last cent of it run out and unless I get some
help I and my poor little children must starve to
death I send this to you to no if there is any thing
at all alowed to the soldiers wifes up here for if
the shop keepers has got it they wont let none but
the rich and hotels have it and now as a friend
I hope you will direct me in the right manner
tell me what to depend upon he never got any of
his bounty at all before he died and I have not got
it yet you will please tell me how to percede in
getting of it you will ever oblidge your friend
Nancy Grady
To hon Z B Vance Morganton Burk County
Gov N C NC