Kinston N. C. Nove 22the 1863

My Dear Wife and Children I seat my self
this Blesed sabath morning to Rite you afew
lines to let you now that I am only tolarabel
well I hav got A very Bad Cold and A very
Bad Cough My Dear Wife I cant tell how
mutch I would give to be at home this morn
ing to go With you to Preachin and stay With
you as long as I live I youst to Read my
Bible till I got tired and then I could talk
With you and go where I Pleased but now
I hant got the chance of anegro you Rote
to me to not Runaway you dont now nothing
About hard times I hant got no letter in
two weeks and it seems to me that it
has bin two months sense I hav heard from
you I cant stay hear if the lord spares
me I will come home the artilery shot
of 16 canons friday morning Sum of thim
Said tha hadant never herd the like sense
tha had bin out sum of them sayes that
tha think that tha will be Peace in A
short time the lord nows I dont I am
in hops that tha will be peace and
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I dont care how it comes it I hav
bin so in my hips that I hardly could go
I went to the doctor to git excused but he
would not excuse me and I said that I never
would go to him any more that I would go
as long as I can and when I cant go no
longer I will lay down any plase I only have
one time to Dy I want you to pray for
me day and night to I have my health to git
home once more and see you I hope the lord
will bless you all and save you if I nown
that I had to stay in the army till the
war ended I would as soon be Ded and I
would any how if it wasant for you and my
littel Children I cant see any peace hear
tell mother that I live in hops that I will
see her once more in this life and I hope
she will live that I may see her O my
Dear wife and children I cant see how to
Rite for my teares I want you to kiss
my littel babes for me and tell them
how it tis for I want you to Rite soon I
must close by say I remain your loving husband
until Death
F.M. Poteet to M. A. E. Poteet
so farwell