July 3 1863
State of North Carolina and the
County of Martin Dis No 3
Dear sir I this day seat my self to write
you A few lines to inform you of my auful
circumstance Hoopeing you will accomplish
my desires: In the first place I will say to you
my husband died February the 16 1863 left me
with eaight childrain six daughters and two sones
one of my sones 2 years old and the other 5 months
also he left A large stock of sheep. hogs. and
cattle: My hogs has gone wild My cattle I
cant get My sheep in foris not shird I want
you to discharge My sone Joseph G.
Godward for two or three Months to get
my stock and fix my business so I can attend
to it I have hierd men to get my stock: they
cant find them because they dont now where there
range is Joseph is a man of A family his
wife has two childrain she is in a very bad
circumstance her lambs in the wods not marked
her crop goin to dis strucksion and no one to tend
I think if the President could no my condition
and the standing of my sones family he would
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discharge him Please Govener discharge
my sone .Joseph G. Godward hoo belongs
to the 61 Redement Co Radclif. co H
Capt Lanier hoo was at camt davis
near Willmington please Govner
grant my request: I no not what to
do if he cant come I could write you A
full letter but I dont now that it would
do enny good I will close my short letter
by saying to you please be my friend
pitty A poor widow . Elizia . Godward to
the Govner