State of alabama talladag this
Janary the 15 th 1863
Dear father and Mother it isa gane
threw the mercys of god that
i am blest with the present opportun[ity?]
of droping you a fu lines to let
you know that i am yet on the
land an among the living and
as well commen and i hope when these
lines comes to hand that tha
may find you enjoying the same
blessings of god i have nothing of
interest to rit to you times is
hard and it looks like it will
knot bee any beter we dont get
mutch more than half rashins
hear and it nothing only bred
and beef and the beef is so pore it
is knot fit to eat we draw a bout
a quart of molasses a week for four
men and 1 mes of rice a week thar is
know talk of peac hear of a count
tho tho it looks like it wil hav
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to close before long or we will all
starve to death i have drew some money
tho only for 2 months tha say i
will draw in a fue days a gane
John is gon now on a furlow
i sent Alas 12 dollars an i will
send her more when i draw if i can
John send it [??] and i received a
leter from [???] dated the 28 of Dec
i was glad to [hear?] that tha was all well
i have knot got a leter from you in
a long tome i rot to you in a nother the last leter
that i got i want you to knot forget
to rit to me for i want to hear from
you every chance i want to see you
all the [??]rst i ever did in my lif
i want you bouth to remember me
in your prayres tell William that
that i Recived his leter [????] gave me grat
satisfaction and rot on in ancer to
it it is Raing now i will have to
close excuse my bad Riting my pen is [??]
un tell Death
my paper damp [?????] [????] [????]
J.J. Randolph James Poe