Ga Upton Cty May the 8th 1863

Dear Son and Brother this leaves us all as well
as common and we hope it will find you enjoying
good health we received your wellcome letter last
wednesday dated May the 3rd it gave us some satisfa
ction but would have give us more if you had said
you was well that is allways the most important
sentance we have got our oldest corn plowed and
nearly howed over it is small but has a tolerable
good coler some that we did not have to plow up is
knee high corn is ginerally small owing to haveing to
be plowed up we planted our late corn last week
our wheat has a little of the mold or rust on the
blades but we hope it will not injure it much
our oats look tolerable well dont see any sign of
rust in them yet when we say gin house field
we mean all between the crop we planted
just what Materson had the last year he farmed
hear on both sides of the branch we have a tolerable
good stand of cotton we have a tolerable nice
Garden we have set out one drawing of potatoe plants
we planted cotton on the fresh hill side the
other side of the branch all except a little that
was too > we planted that in corn we received
your Box and keys in duo time I brought your
box home when I went that trip to Town you
spoke of the billy traviled I was 2 days and a
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half makeing the trip I and Uncle John went
to last week Mr Kincy paid us 200 and
30 dollars a piece I dont know whether Uncle John
has sent you a receipt to sign or not, old mam
Kin that belong to Uncle Bens estate died yesterday
We are both very ancious for you to have a substitutte
but we dont know how to proceed we will try James
Attwater as soon as we can see him, as to the property
you spoke of I thought you would understand who I
alluded to Becky wont do any thing but sew when Ma
has not got sewing for her she works for herself and
Ma carding and spining you spoke of the sacrafise
we think if you was here you could raise the money
without seling any thing you would > mis much
Bud I recon you have heard of the late Battle at
Fredricksburg we have not heard the particulars, language
will not express the dread and anxiety I feel, you
must excuse me I cant see to write on the subject
I will close for the present as cant hardly write
tell nothing more only we remain as ever your
affectionate Mother and Sister M. E Ivey M A Pound