[Alfred E. Cowand was taken prisoner at the Battle of Plymouth on April 20, 1864. He later died at Andersonville prison camp]
April the .11. 1864
Plymouth NC
Dear father I take my pen in
hand to let you hear from mee
I am well at this time in
hopes thies fiew lines may find
you injoying the Same good blessing
of life I hav no news to write of
any imporence father I want you to
write to mee as Soon as you can an
write how times is over there
I wont to hear from you myty
bad father I am faring Just as
well as I wish to but that
dont sadesfy me like hom
for I Rather See you all an any
thing in this world but I dont
now when I ever Shal for dont
now expect to come home tell
the war ends if I ever do I hope
an trust in god that I shall get
hom to See you all once more before
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I die unkle ned an george is
bouth injoying very good helth
an wonts there love Remembered
to you an all of there folks
I must close my letter by Saying
write Soon yours
trewly from an
absent Sun Alfred E
Cowand


Dear Sister I will write you a
Fiew lines to inform you that
I am injoying the very best
of helth hoping thies fiew
lines may find you injoying
the same good blessing of life
Dear Sister you dont amadgin how
bad I wont to See you I would
give the whole world to See
you give my love to unkle
Jim an ant liley an Jody
an ant Seley an ant marthey
[page 2]
an mother an all of the
children an keep a large
portion for you Self Dear Sister
I hav not hearn from you in
a bout one mounth an I want
you to write to mee as Soon
as you can an write all of the
news george taylor a unkle ned
wants there love Rememberd
to you an Says they would
bee glad to see you give my
love to all of the gals an tell
them I wont to See them
myty bad I must Close my
letter by Saying farwell
untell I See you yours
trewly from an absent
brother A E Cowand

To Willia A
Cowand