Sullivans Island S. C. October 17th 1864 Monday Evening 2 oclock
My Dear wife Children & friends I Seat myself to drop you
a few lines to inform you all that I am well at this time
hopeing when those few lines Comes to hand they find you
all Enjoying the best of health and Blessings Dear wife
I never have Enjoyed better health and appetite than I have
sence I come here well Hulda your welcome Letter of the
15th inst has Just come to hand and you dont no how
glad I was to read its contents and to hear from loved ones
at home though Sorry to hear that Brother Leroy was so sick
and in the Hospital I hope to god he is better by this time
and may be well when I hear from him again poor
Dear Brother he has a hard time may god spare his precious
his life Dear wife I was sorry to hear that Beavers was on a
Spree drinking whiskey that he had not finished your
corn crib yet you said that you Expected you would have to
put the corn in the old crib I dont want it done if it
can be helped for you no that that the Rats will destroy
a large portion of it you have no corn to Spare in that
way tell the old man that if he does nothing Elce to be
Sure and fix the new crib for you him and Johnny Can
fix it one day put off gethering the corn rather than put
it in the old crib go see the old man yourself Git
U X or D B see him allso and I no he will fix it for you
I am glad you got your lower field of peavines pulled up
be sure and gether your seed peas dont let the peas or
Corn be waisted in this field if you can help it for it is
a going to be a close hard time for provisions them that
has got will have them that haint wil do without I
was glad to hear that D B Got his time Extended tell him
do so again if he can I am glad that U. X. stays
home I hope he will stay til he sees the cloud a
rising they cant hang him if he stays til Cristmass over
[page 2]
you said that a dispatch come saying that ab
Quatlebaum was killed that Rance Gunter was badly
wounded and fell in the yankies hands Huldah you can
tell Beavers that his man W. C. McCand got his letter and
he came and saw me and showed me the letter he
is a very nice clever man and he asked me all bout
the horse he said the old man could keep the
horse a nother year I told him the horse was a doing
fine and he appeared to [be] verry well satisfied with what
I told him about his horse. Huldah [??????????????]
me about the tobacco I cear nothing [???] I am glad you
Sent Dan Quatlebom that wo[??] I dont think he [??] help
you but it is according to his own request I saw Jacob
Gantt yesterday he is well and was glad to see each
other he said E. R. was in the hospital I have drawed a
cap coat pants 2 pair of drawers and 2 Shirts So you [see?]
I have plenty of clothes for the presant our company is a
going in to Fort Sumpter [???????????????????????????]
now So I hear it is no Strange sight [????????????????]
a toting Bags of sand and cannon balls weighing 64 lbs
one hour on and one off Bucking is a common thing here
Bucking is tying thir hands together drop them below the
knees and run a stick throug if a man does right
he dont have none of this punishment I have to [????]
pens to rite with I wish you had a good one you
will have to pay Mr Jackson the postage on my letters
as I cant stamps yet Read this letter to Mother tel Betsy
howdy and Lawrance who[??] Pay says tell Della Ma[?]
he haint forgot her Pa can hear her call him [????]
O Pa come a dinner and here her say here is Pas Negro
two Sweet litle children kiss them both for me I
hope to god I ma return to my loved ones at hom
one more time I no not when that time will Be
I remain your loving husband til Death
to his wife Amanda H Gunter Ucal Gunter