February 26 1865 Fayett ville N.C.
my dear wife I take the opertunity to
rite you a few lines to let you know
that I am well and have bin all the
time ondley badley wered from a long
march and i hope thease few lines may
find you all well we avacuated charles
ton on the 17th and took the cars for wilmin
gton but when we got in a bout 40 mile
of wilmington we heard the yankes had
taken it and we took it a foot for fayette
ville N C about 70 miles and have bin 5
days on the road and we have had a bad
time it was so raney but we have just
got heare and george is well & george oden
is well and I want to try to get a furlow
to come home as soon as I can but cant
tel you when but we have not bin in
aney fight yet and I hope I shant and
I have knot heard how maney was kiled
in the fight at wilmington it looks
like the confedercy is gone up to evry
bodey in the armey at this time I have
knowt got a leter from you in a long
time and i should be very glad to hea
re from you and all of the folks at
home and I want you to rite to me as soon
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as you get this and direct it to me
at fayette ville N C in care of lieuten
ant Smith marien corps company F
and that is all of the nues as fare as I
know at this time for it is all bad
times we are a faring not so well as we
did but we make out on it I want to
see you and the children very bad and
I hope that I shal see you before long for
it seamses like a long time I cant tel you
how long we shal stay heare I ondley can
tel you that we are heare at this time I
forgot to put the county it is cumberlin
county thare is a right smart company
of us from the iron clads two or three hun
dred of us and I dont know ware we are
a going to for if the oficers knowes they
wont let us know but thare is know na
vy ondley at virginia and they cant all
get in ofice thare and they may take the field
for what I know for the sake of ofice
you must give my love to all of my friends and
you must all pray for me I will close and
I will send one that I rote on the cars and
did not send it off I hope the lord will be
with us all as he has bin and protect us and
a findley save us all at last in heaven is
the prayers of your affectionate husband good by
H H Bowen