[written by Calvin Childers]

orrange Court House
Dec the 20th 1863
Dear
Father mother brothers and Sisters
after my best respects to you I embrace
the present opportunity of writing you
a few lines which by reading will in
form you that I am well and harty
at this time truly and for ever hoping
thes few lines may reach you in due
time and find you all well and enjoying
great Sadisfaction I havent
received no letter from home Since
Jerry Blackburn came down I be gin to
want to hear from you the worst
in the world I have no news inter
esting to write at present more than
there is no news stiring in camps
at this time that is no reliably
news every thing is Still a long our
lines there is no talk of any fighting
down hear but I dont no whether
there will be or not I can inform
you that times is hard hear
and I am a fraid worse a coming
[page 2]
tell John Blacks folks he is well
at this time and is appointed
Sergeant of Co A So you must
write to me Soon and often
and fail not in So doing
and gave me all of news
in that country tell all of
my connection to rite to me
So no more at present only remain
your affection Son
until death
Thornton Sexton
to Pryor Sexton and family

is this letter is so lucky as to come
to hand befor you Start down
hear I want you to Send me
all of the provisions you can Such
as apples onions cheese Molasses butter
and so on
[page 3]
every thing high and hard to git
little apples a bout the Size of crab
apples is worth from 2 to 3 dollars
per dozen paper four dollars per quire
corn meal is worth fifty cents per
quart cabbage heads from two dollars
to two and fifty cents per head
and every thing else according to
that we have had no Snow down hear
yet but Some mighty cold wheather
I can in from you that we have
drawed a Suiet of close all a round
So I dont need any clothing now
I want to see you all the worst
in the world but there is no chance
for that at this time but I hope
the time wont be long till this
war ends So we can See one another
and be at home with one other
you Stated in your last letter you was
coming down I want you to
be certain and come for I would
be the gladest in the world to see
[page 4]
You coming tell Calvin Childers
folks he is well fat and Saucy at this
time and Sey he would be glad to
See you all and he wants you to
write to him and George Blackburn
is well and doing well and in fact
the company is all well and in
fine Spirits at this time and
the most of the Soldiers thinks
this war will end before long
So you must write Soon and often
and fail not in So doing and
gave me all of the news in Ashe
and whether the people in Ashe
thinks this war will ever end or
not and write how all of my
connection is coming on and
what for times there is in Ashe
you must gave my best respects
to all enquiring friends and re
lation So I Shall have to close
Shortly by asking you to
rite Soon and often