PetersBurg Va
August 21 1864

Dear Wife and children I seat
my self this morning to Rite you
afew lines to let you now that
I am only in Comon health at
this time but I doo hope that
these few lines may Reach your
kind hands and find you all
in good health you Rote to me
to not Runaway if it is the
will of my loving Wife I wont
Runaway god nows that it tis
hard times hear I want you
to send me somthing to eat
by sumbody if Pery Walker dont
fetch it you Rote that you would
all mose be on your head till
Higgins Come back Dont bee
uneasy for if it tis the will
of you that I Should stay till
the war ends I will stay if
[page 2]
I live but you dont now how
bad that I want to see you
all I dreamed about you this
morning I thought that I was at
home and as well Satsfide as
I ever was in my life but when
I waked up I was laying on my
blanket if it tis god will I
will get home some time are
other but I dont know when
if you haint Sent nothing when
this letter comes to hand if
any body will fetch me any
thing I want you to send me
sum 5 are 6 Rosenyears I haint
tasted one this year and if tha
if you have got them I would like
for you to send me sum cewcumbers
I haint drew no money yet and
I dont now when I will I have
borrowed 10 are 15 Dollars to get
[page 3]
me sumthing to eat but the
time is now when we cant borrow
if I was at home I think that
I could get sumthing that could
eat tha are fighting now and
I dont now how our men is fares
I can hear ther guns as plain as
if I was in amile of them you
Rote that Mr Dickson and Mrs
Dickson sent me ther love and
Respects I had lefe the horspitel
the day bee fore Mrs Dickson come
down to see grason She sent me
one union and 4 June apels I
eat them but I dont now hoo
sent them to me I thank them
to doo so again if tha please I
got 2 thirds of aplug of tobaco with
this letter Walker will
fetch me sumthing to eat I wish
you would send alitel with him
[added at top of page]
Mary I want you to Rite plainer if you
can next time you Rote that you had
Rote once be fore this time if you did I dident
git it
[page 4]
PetersBurg Va August 21 1864
Dear daughter I thank you for
Riting to me you Rote your letter
5 of Aug. I want you to prepare
to meat your god in pease if you
haint and I want you to pray
for your father and pray that he
may have his life spared and live
to get home once more to see
you all Dear wife if you can send
me sum sweete potatoes Remember
me in your potisions and ask
god to have mursey on me and
help me to pray aright to my
god I dident Rite to you last
week for I could not git to pen
and ink I am in the Bigade horse-
pitel now but I aint very bad of
my brest and side hurts me sum
I am thankful that I aint in this
fight I must close by saying that I Remain
your loving husband until Death god bless
F.M. Poteet to M.A.E. Poteet you is
my prayer