April 23rd 1864
Camp 61. Regt N.C. Troop
Ivor Station, Va
My Dear Mother,
your kind and mo-
st Welcomb Letter came to
hand a few days ago, I had
Just got Back from Suffolk
When I got your Letter. We went
to Suffolk to driv the yankees
from thire, But there was not
any yankees there, There
Was fifteen of our Regt fought
the yankees three hours,
When we had to retreat,
We had one man Wounded
Badly in the Leg from
our Company, We fought
them three hours hand
to hand, We had to giv Back
at last, Mother it has
Bin reported here to day
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that We hav captured
Plymouth, But I cant
think that it is So. But
I hope that it is so.
Mother, I hav no news
of any importance to Write
you at this time. Times
is all quiet here, now,
Mother I hav not got time,
I Will Write you a long
Letter in a few days,
I was sorry to here that
you did not hav any
Meat. But I hope that
hav got Some By this
time. Mother I
think that We Shall git
Some Money By the
first of May, and then I
Will Send you fifty
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Dollars, I think that we
Shall go Back to North Carolina
in a short time, Dear
Mother I must Close
for ther Want of Something
to Write. Thies few
lines leavs me in fine
helth at present. hoping
thies few lines may
fined you in good helth.
Nothing more at present
Only I Remaine your
affectionate Son untill
Death.
Edgar Smithwick