N C Mcdowell County 1864
thursday January the 7

My Dear husband I now seat my
self to write you a few lines to let
you know we are not well the children
is sick with bad colds and I haint
seen a well day since you left I have
had a very bad head ache ever sens
last Sunday but I do hope and pray
this will find you in good health
the Raleigh gard never come back
no moor I wish you could hav staid
with me Mr Walker and Johnathan
kiled my hogs the day after you
left I cant get the William house
he is a going to move to it and I dont
know what to do Bill Cowen come
hear a teusday and told me to get
out as soon as I could and what I am
to do I dont know one of the sheep is
at Baty Grasons I hav got one at home
and I got the cows home last teusday
Thomas found them at Johnathan
Taylors you thought it was cold
when you was hear but it was nothing
the 1 & 2 days of this Month was the
coldest I ever felt and it much
warmer yet I dont believe we hav
had but two clear days sins you left
Pery Walker sed you had Washs gloves
blanket and to send them to him
I want you to tell him if he was as
willing for other people to hav there
oune as he was for Wash to hav his
I would got my ring in the place of
some one els he talked like you had
stold the Blanket and gloves
[page 2]
I want you to talk to the captain
and know if they cant put me out
if they cant I wont leav you can tell
him how it is – if I hav to moove I will
sell the Mar and Cows and live while
the corn and meat last for I dont see how
I am to get along with no one to help
me I hav to pay tax on the cows
I want to know what they don with you for
runing away the men about hear says
you will hav to come home in
Companys before peace will be mad
and they say they wish you all would
come and says if the war dont stop the
people will perish they are enroling them
from 18 to 55 and what are we to do
if you all dont come home O my dear husband
you dont know how lonsom I am sins
you left I dread to see Night come
O I do hope and pray that the Lord
will spar our lives to see each other in peace
Once moor O Lord be with my dear husband
and bless him for I cant be with him
O Francis it dos seem like it will
kill me to be parted from you
with no one to protect me and
your little helpless children
I pray the Lord to save your sole
and body fom harm if I never see
you no moor I want you to write
soon I am so cold I must quit
May the Lord bless and save
you is my prayer for Christ sake

Martha A. E. Poteet to my
loving husband
Francis M. Poteet farwell
my love till we meet again