[The Dicksons were related to the Poteets and neighbors in McDowell County, North Carolina. G. C. Dickson (b. ca. 1829) served as a private in Co. I, 18th NC Infantry. In the 1860 census, G. C. Dickson’s occupation is listed as “miner.” At that time he and his wife, Martha M. Dickson (b. ca. 1833), had a four-month-old daughter, M(aggie).]

Fedrick Maryland September the 8 1862

My Dear Wife and little children
I now imbrace the oppertunity of riteing
you A few lines to infourm you that I
am Well except A bad cold and I must
Sincerly hope these lines may find
you all Well and doing Well I rote you A letter
A bought ten days ago When We got to the
camps near richmon Va We have bin marching
eight days and it is veary dry and dusty
When We left Statsville We was
ordered to go to the 18 rigment and We
landed hear to day and ar veary tired I
have not Seen nor heard from Grayson [1] yet
but I Will try to find him if I can but
I dont know Wether he is Alive or not for
they have bin fighting A great deal at
manasses We have never bin dreeled any
Sence We left home and I Wood not be
Seprised if We have to go to fighting in a
day or two I expect I Shal leave hear to morrow
I have not time to rite veary much I cold rite
A grate deal if I had time I See A grate deal
of trubbel and hard times but I Will
do the best I can give my love and best
respects to my father and mother and to all
my brothers and Sisters and to all my frends
tel them all hoddy for me tel father and mother
I have not time to rite to them and not
to think hard of me if I ever get to Stay
at one place long enugh I will rite
to them all I wold be glad to see them all
[page 2]
and you may be Sure that I Wood be
glad to See you and littel maggy and
littel matilda I Want you to kiss them
for me and tel them Abought paw
if I had ten thousant dollars I Wood
give it to be at home With you and the
children for I donot think About much
elce but you and them I Want you to rite
as Soon as this letter comes to hand it
may be that the leter Will be Sent on to
me direct you letter to the 18th regment of north
carolina troops branches breggade
gardensville va

I Want you to cend me all the
newes let me know how your corn and
hogs look I must come to A close
So nothing more at present only to say
I hope the lord Will bless and keep
us alive til We can See each other
agin is my praayer for christ Sake
G. C Dickson to mrs. martha M. Dickson
[page 3]
A littel more I Want you to rite to me
how you ar geting a long and let me
know the times is in old north carolina
I Want to hear from home mighty bad
I Want you let me know if littel martha
matilda can crall yet or not I Want
to kiss littel maggy and littel matilda
for me and tel them a bout paw
May the bless you and my littel children
is my prayer rite to me as Soon as
you get this letter direct you letters to
the eight teenth rigment north carolina
troops compny eye branches breggade
Gardsenville Va
G. C Dickson to mrs martha m.
Dickson