Long Acre Washington Co. January the 21 1865
Beloved Henry it is with pleasure I rite you a few
to let you know how we are we are all well except
Cornelia Ann she is not well yet she had got
so she could walk about the room but her sore
nees has returned again her nea will
sweal up and ache and then it will be
so sore she cant bear her wait on it
then in her ancle and in her rist
and sholders it shifts about by the
time it gets better in one place it takes
in another it dont pain but is sore and
aches she aint quite as bad off as she was
at first but she is far from being well
she hasent bin out of the house since new
years day a great deal of the time i have
her head to comb and feed her she
cant get her hand to her mouth hardley
if she can she hasent got strength to hold
on to northing I dont no what does aild her
unles it is the rumatism it is very
like it if she dont get better I shal get
a docter if I can and se if he cant do her
some good it is a great pulback to me I
havent had the chance to do a dayes work
since christmas by the time I wait on her and
[page 2]
do my hindersinces it is night and the lord only
knows when she will be aney better some days
she can set up and seem rite peart and
others she keeps her bed most all day some
times she has a fever most of the time since
the first week she has appetite a
plenty I wish you were home it seemes
like it wouldent be so bad you could be
company and asistance but now its no
boddy but ma to docter and see after every
thing and get up and down a nights
I some times gets almost in despar do
come home as soon as you I want to see
your face once more and one more sweet
kiss from those sweet lips of your that I
have kissed so often I am so afraid the yankees
will get the rail road and you away thar
so you cant come home nor even send letters I
trust in god if they do you will be on this
side of it I heard to day that the yankees
had got willmington it is the yankeey news
aslo that the southerners had newbern it
is flying report I dont no as it is so they
have bin shooting that way lst sunday
and thursday I dont think it is so for Rodah
was at the lines yesterday and heard notthing of
it the lines was closed they were landing troops
[page 3]
for some perperse they dident no what I expect
to go up the country on a rade they have some
things to sel but I havent got aney thing
yet I want to send for some salt and
medicen when the lines is opend they trade
the same way they did last year willis has
to approve the order some times they will
let people go in they go in town the same
way they did before the war they have made
a brig over the canel it is all quite times
in beaufort and hyde they run up to was
ington to trade but dont stay long I heard
that wm antony was wounded at willminton
the 25 of dec and sence I hear he is dead I
havent heard from zachary since the first of
November langley and alfred T was thar
in the fight most all the Buffalows that
run away in beauford has come back Johnathan
harres and Blunt O and bartemus L and
that crowd of beever dam what aint dead a great
many of them is dead old Jack warters and wife
and Isaac warters is dead and some of evry
family they said they faired verry bad they wore
back the clothes that they wore of ever bit they
could get they had to by something to eat and scarce
at that
[page 4]
John Respess goes to newbern yet he hasent had
many goods yet the yankees hasent bin out this
way to bother yet I would be vary glad to have
some of your oysters to eat I no you think of me when
you have oysters I expect you will get to loving
them you say you havent had a mes of corn bread
since you left home I should think as good as you
love dumplins you would want some you must
have somthing sutes you very well I reckon you
will get a mes of beef I would like to have some
of your sugar and coffe and you had some of
my greens I dont expect you get aney the apples
is about gone i never saw apples rot worse
in my life the potatoes keeps tolerable well
I sent you some thread in my two last and
i will send you some cotton in this I havent
receved no letter in two weeks this is three
I have writen since I receaved one I hope to get one
before many days tel george that Mary is well but
the baby has bin not well for two or three weeks it has
somthing like the colick days it will seem rite smart
and nights it will have a screaming spell the nei
ghbours is all well your farthers folks is well as
comin except stanly has a bad sore throat and your
mother is always complaining but i believe it is as
much trouble as aney thing she is always sheading tears
about you boys every time I see her I want you to
rite a piece to her you know how hardsided she is and you know
it is a dangers belief she cant live many years longer
at most and sight her to god who is able to save and make
her piece with god to meet her children perhaps it will
do her good in time to come dont tel her that I told you to do it
I must close I hope the Lord will shield you from all harm
and cause us to meet soon on earth to enjoy each other company
at home to part no more till death is my prayer good by A L Bowen