State of Alabama Talladego
County this September the
23 the 1862
Dear father and Mother it is
threw the murcys of god that
that I imbre the present [1]
opportunity of riting you
a fue lines to let you know
that I am well as to helth
but I am trubled in mind
I have bin drug off from
my family and frends that
was near an dear to mee tho
if the lord is willing I will
see them a gain tho it is unknow
to me when it will bee it is
the hardest ro to weed that
I ever trid in my life for my
family is onn my mind every
hour in the day I will say
to you that we hav a hard
time hear our meat is knot
fit to eat and dont git mutch
[Page 2]
at that we hav corn meal plenty
I will say to you thar is a
bout 6 hundre con scrips hear
and fifty I will say to you
I got hear the fift of this month
and has knot heard frm hom
sinc I will say to you thare
was a Missionary preache come
hear the other day and
called out the people to mak
a speech and he had knot
spok more than fiv minets
tol he was struck with
the ded polsy and he was
severl days before he spok
a word it looked like he was
a going to say something
that he had know business
I wold like to see you all
very well and if I cant
see you I wod lik to hear
from you I want you to
rit to me as soon as you
[Page 3]
get this leter and rit
all a bout the things thare
and I want you go gow to
see Aleys and the children
and advise them to dou the
bes tha can for I know that
she is lik my self every
hour is lik a hole day
tell all of my frend to rit
to mee every chnc if it is
so with them for I am a
long ways from home
I must come to a close
By saying fare well
but Remanes your frend
untel death
J J Randolph
To James poe
Direct your leters
To talladego post offis
Camp of instruction