[Poteet had recently been charged with desertion for returning home without leave. One of his children had become seriously ill and eventually died. Poteet voluntarily returned and was returned to his regiment.]

January 12 1864

Weldon NC

My Dear Wife and Children
I take the pleasure to drop
you a few lines to let you now
that I am well at this time
hoping these lines may Reach
your kind hands and find you
injoying the same blessing I want
you to Rite to me as soon as
this comes to hand you Rite tha
have to Read the letters that
I git from you and Read my
letters I want you to Rite to me
whether tha have taken ashville are
not I could not git to come
Back I want you to Rite to me
whether you have got your hogs
[page 2]
killed are not I am in the
gard house and I dont now
when I will git out I hope
that god will Bless you and
my littel Children and give
you plenty to eat as long as
you live Dyrect to NC Weldon
gard House in care of the
prov Marchel ofis [1] I could
not Rite till now and
I doo hope that you may git
this letter and hear from me
and hear that I am well if it
can Reach you and find you all
well I would be glad I must
come to A close by saying that
I remain your loving Husband
until death F. M. Poteet
to M. A. E. Poteet god bless you