Dear Brothers This 2the of Sept [1861]
I seat myself this morning to wrigt
you A few to let you know that we
are all well at presant and we war
sory to hear that you ware sick
and we hope that you are well at this
time we herd from Brother and Nophlet
yesterday and both of them ware well
Jo tell yancy that we are sory to hear
that he is sick yet but we hope that
he will recover and yet live to
whip the yankes Jo I am sory to
say that the yankes has invaided
the soil of North Carolina but let
that be we will whip them there
too for we will not submit to
yankes Jo I went to Mr Watkins
funel yesterday and when we got
home we all went to Kittrells
spraings Brother Joseph and Nophlet
Pappy and ma sais that they wants
you all to be good boys we
was glad to heare that you ware
A better boy than you ever was
Pappy wants you all to keep
yourselves clean and nice Jo we wants
you to write us A letter how you
are of fare Cloth and money and
something to eat Jo tell Brother and
Nophlet to wright to us one of you
three must wright every week
Jo I have nothing more to wright
but we hope to see you all on
earth A gain but if we never more
see you all we hope to meet you all in
heaven J. F. Cogwell [unclear why J. F. spelled his last name this way]