this May the 19th 1863
Dear loveing wife I onse more by
the wil of god Set mi Self down
to write you a few lines to let you
no that I am well at this time
and hope when these few lines
cums to your loveing hands that
tha may find you and all of our
children well and doing well
I received your kind letter last
nite and was verry glad to
hare from you and all of the rest
that you all was well oanley
you sed calog was not wel I
from home sence Marcus Singre
cum down Mi darling wife
I will tel you that we have left
kinston and ther is a talk of
leaveing hur and going to fredericks burg
[page 2]
and if tha gout there I will
leave and cum home for I
Cant live this way no how
times is giting wors every day
I Sean Sidney Setzer last Sunday
and he Sed tha got nothing hardley
to eat we cant git ey thing for
the mone hardley we Some times
git Some pies and cakes if we
couldent git nothing from home
nor nor nothing from the cuntry
the people all would perrish tha
ar what I cal perrish now So mi
loveing wife if god Spars
mi life I will See you agane
and if I eve live to git home
onse more I will never
leave you enny more tel
death pars us mi darling wife
I dont think I wil Stay much longe
[page 3]
I hare of agreate menny going
home evry day and I wish every
man would go home and Stay
there mi darling wife I want
to See you that bad that I cant
Stay hur much longer and all
the rest mi Sweete little darling
babe I have all most for got how
She looks So loveing wife if we
Stay hur I expect to Stay a while
yet wen yo write direct your
leter to kinston NC So I must
close for this time
Daniel Setzer to his darling wife
Susan Setzer god bless you
foreve and ever amen
[page 4]
A few lines to car I want
you to doo the best you can
and take care of all of our things
and work all yu can tel I cume
you Sed in yor letter that the wheat
was wast hi and the ry was
all out in heads and Some
corn was half knee hi I am
glad to hare that you ar triing
to live and work along the
best you can you Said in your
letter that you tak care when
you work hur and not let hur
run away So I must close for
this time by Saying god bless
you all Daniel Setzr to
his beloved Son car Setzer
and and sis and
Mary and mi Sweet little babe