Ashville Buncomb County

November the 26 1863
Dear wife and family i now seat my
self to let you no that I am wel at
presant hopeing when theas lines come to
hand they wil find you and family
engoying the same blesing i have never
received a letter from you yet i dont no
whats the matter if you write i dont
get them and if you dont write you
you must to have forgotten me alltogether
i now write you this letter not noing
when i can write agane we are now
two miles of ashville but i dont no
how long we wil stay here but write
drect your letter to ashville in care of capt
hines our company is generly wel one man
dide out of it yeastdy from roan county
we have driven the yankyes from nox
ville and taken three thousand prisners
we are all in good sperits some of our
company is gone to hay wood county
on a scout i have subscribed for the
ashville paper for you you can get it
every week i want you to get it
then you wil no whats going on in
west i am here with one sute of close
i left my yarn slips and gloves socks
shirt and belt and one pare of pants i
drawd all at camp vanc i dont no
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whether i will ever get them
or not i can say to you that we have
had had hard times my horse has stood it
well i have be offerd fifteen hundred
dollars for him but i expect to keep him
and if we boath live i expect to
ride him home i expect to get a furlo
this winter some time but if i dont
i want you to do the best you can and
take care of every thing and if they
aint all got shoes get them get waits
and jo hats i have spent all the mony
i tuck with me we by enny thing we
want to eat i paid as hi as two
dollars for one meal we fared wel
when we wase in tennessee i took
one blanket and one shirt from the
torys auncle Mathy told the truth a
bout tennessee it is the best country
ever seen i must now close this letter
by saying i remain yours until
death so give my best respects to all
i left behind yes my native home
i love the all the pleasure i love
them wel though we spirated i hope
we wil meet agane so i give howdy
to all both black and white
Franklin Setzer