Mcdowell Co N C April the 7 1864

My Dear husband I seat My self this Morning
to write you a few lines to let you know
that we are only tolerable well we have
very bad colds I am so hoars that I cant hardly
talk and sis has had the Croup this week
but I do hope these few lines May reach your kind
hands and find you well I haint had no letter
in two Weeks I would be glad to hear from you
I have got 2 bushels of sweet potatoes and planted
them I planted 7 & 33 hills and I have to pay 100 [$1.00?]
dollar per bushel I haint planted Corn yet
I want to plant next Week if it dont rain
last week somebody stold two of Allens
horses and left two old poor no count ones
in there place and last Monday Night some
body stold 20 peices of bacon from him
the rest Joints last Monday all
the Men was ordered from Camp Vance to
Ashville they say that the yankeys can
come here at any time they please but
they dont want to come for there aint
any thing to come for but a parcel of half
perished women and children half of my
time I dont have nothing for breakfast but
Cornbread and bran coffee it is hard living
but I hope it wont be so all ways I cant
buy one mouth full of nothing to eat
and thread sells for 3 penny weights of gold
for a bunch and I cant get non I hav fifty
cents in confederate salt is one
dollar a pound they have quit keeping
goverment salt at the X roads I give
three dollars old state Money and two
confederate dollars for 8 lbs of salt
how I am to get along God knows I dont
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they are looking for Marion Higgins home
and I will try and get him to take you
somthing to eat I am sorry I could not send
you somthing before now but you know
that I would if I could I have had a many
a tear about it I aint able to bring it
My self and I cant get no person to take
you somthing to eate and if I was able to come
I dont think it is aplace fit for women
except it be in case of sickness then I
would come if I had to beg my way to you
I want to see you very much but I cant
come to you but I hope that your head
man will let you come to me before long
you must do the best you can put your
trust in God fear not what man can do they
can but kill the body but fear God that
can kill both sole and body pray for me
dear husband that I may be spard to
to take care of my little children for I
am in a helpless condition no one to look
too for help but God alone but he
is able to save all them that put
there trust in him I trust in him and
I try to pray for you my self and our little
children and for peace so that you all
can come to your friends but if I see you
no moor in this world I hope to meet
you in heaven where we will be
separated no moor but if it is Gods
will I would be glad to see you in this
life May God bless you and save from
harm and danger is my prayer farwell
M. A. E. Poteet to her loving husband
F. M. Poteet farwell my dear Francis
please gard give this to my husband