Goldsro March 3 1863 [Goldsboro]
Deare Sister
I have just
received your letter & was
glad to heare frome you all
but was sorry to heare that
Dump was sick. we have
bin out on a long march five
companeys of this readgement
we ware sent down in Onslow
County five miles this side
of Jacksville [1] we ware sent
there to gard the waggons
to get corn we wreach this
place last night at a 11 o clock
we are all broke down & the
dirtyest parcle of men you
ever saw smoked as blacked
as negrose
[page 2]
I am sory to heare that
you all cant sell the land
tell Buck to try & make some
arrangement a bout it I had
rather rent a place some
where els than to live where
you all are If we cant do any
better let ous all sell our
interest in it to Mr Hight
for I know if you all stay
at the present prises of things
you will spend the best part
of it this year
tell Buck I want him to
get Dump a quarte of brandy
to make her some bitter
& I will pay him as soon
as we draw our money they
say that we will draw this
week
[page 3]
Tell Dump I will send
her some money just as soon
as we can draw tell her
to write to me as soon as she
can & tell me all news
I comensed this letter this mor
ng but we were all called out
to see fore men of this readgement
whiped they striped them &
gave them 50 lashes on there bare
backs it was for dersition
tell Dump I will come home
just as soon as I can if we can
get our company up to 100
men they will send fore at a time
they are sending them now of
those that have never been
home yet then they will put
all of our names in & draw
who shall go first
[page 4]
Tell Dump not to get out
heart for I do not think that
this ware will last much
longer it was wread out on
drespereads [2] last night that
it will end in 60 days but
I do not know whither it
so or not but I am in hopes
it is so the Goviner made a
speach the other nigh[t] in Golds
buro he says that pease is
close at hand but tell
Dump if she says so I am
willing to give all I got for
a subtistute but if she was
only well & you all doing well
I could stand it much better
give my love to Dump &
Seaf and all the rest
Your brother J A Patton