South Carolina Dec 29th 1861
Pickens Dist Dear Son I imbace
the preasent oppertunity of writing you a line
wonce more we are all well at this time &
hope & trust withe the Blessing of Alimity
that these lines may fined you well I
Cant Say that aney importent news to
write at this time our neighbours are
generley well as fare as I know of we have
had verry dull Christmas this time allmost
all the peopel Stayed at home & attened to
to their own privet affers the most of peopel
met at the general muster groun last
Friday withe the intention of getting more
more volenteers I understand they get the
amount could for at this time it is though
their will be onether call in about thirty
days & that will take in about all the men
betwen the age of 18 & 45 men was verry
Scarce befour this call but they will be good
Scarcer their was one Company made out of
Fairplay, Muddy Spring, Bachlers Retreet
I think the next Call will be a Draf
I have thought I would never would be draf
ted but their is so many men gon out
of this Section I think that all poor peopel
Like we are will be ablights to Suffer
if could Sell property at fair price
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I Could pay Some of my Debs but proper
is dull sale we have Sold one cow at $15
& thes oexen at $31 & want to Sell Some
four hundred pounds of pourk it verry
Fair price worth 15cens at Pendelton
provisions is verry high but I think it will
be good higher I think if the war continues
they take all the men out of this Coutry
that poor peopeal will be ablight to Suffer
I Can See poor peopeal passing about with
out aney Shes this Could wether we have
Some verry frosty wether but the days is
verry pretty I have not kild my hogs yet
but I to kill them som time Shortly
hogs is the greatest Item that is going
we Send you Some Clothes by Patrick Miller
one pair of pants one wescot one pair gloves
one socks & pair galleses & Some pound cake
give my Respects to all the boys I
write to you Some time ago by T. H.
Stribling but I dont know whether you got
it or not I wite it Concernig the Money &
Letter Stams you Sent me I get them all
was fine preasent but if you live I will
reward you for it I Shall Look for you
home in fue weeks I will Bring this
Lines to Close I Remaine your
Loving Farther untill Death
Wm.. T.. Martin Oliver Martin