Kinston N C
January the 9 1863
Dear Miss
I seat my self this morning
to Drop you a fiew lines to let
you know that I am well
at this time & hope & trust
those fiew lines may find
you well I receiv your cind
Letter yesterday & was glad
to here from you but I was
sorry to here that Mrs Long
was Dead & John Fisher was
Dead I haint got mutch nuse
to rit times is very quiet here
no fighting a going here nor
I dont think there will
bee any here soon but I
thought they was agoing
to be a fight here awhile
[page 2]
back but the Yankees was
a fraid to com we have some
cole wether here & our boys haint
got no tents & they have to
take the rain & snow & it makes
no diference how cold but as for
myself I fair very well I am
staying in the court house at
Kinston acting as Courier to carry
Dispatches for General Joens
i haint bin with the company
in 2 weeks & I dont no when
I will go & I herd that the
32 regiment was at Goldsboro
& i think i will try & go to
see them I was up their the
other day but I dident think
about the boys abeing their
[page 3]
ther was three Yankees come &
give up yesterday & a Negro had
runaway to the Yankees he had
bin gon 7 months & he had come
back home he says that he
dont want to see a nother
yankey & all the rest of the negros
he says want to get back but
they have them gueardid so
that they caint come back
there was two of our men Died
the other day at garysburg
with the fever one
was from Lincoln county
I woud love to see you
wonce more if I could
but I am afraid that
it will bee a long time
[page 4]
for I dont think the
war will stop soon but
some thinks that it will
stop in the spring but
I am in hopes that it will
I dont think they can settle
by fighting so I must
bring my letter to a close
write soon if you plese
Thomas Benton Litten
To Miss Mandy E Fisher
When this you see remember me
Direct your letters to Kingston
63 Redg NC Tr in cear of cap
Wharton Kinston N C
T B Litten
To miss Mandy E
Miss M E Fisher Fisher