Martha Hendley Poteet, Letter to Francis Marion Poteet (Nov. 24, 1864)

Martha Hendley Poteet, Letter to Francis Marion Poteet (Nov. 24, 1864)

Encapsulated letter. Martha tells of a battle between the Burke Militia and deserters that resulted in the wounding of Sydney Poteet and the capture of three deserters. The militia also visited Henry Deales looking for deserters and Martha worries that the military will soon come to take Thomas from her. She is still not well and the children have colds. She has harvested the corn and sowed the wheat. She talks of a letter Francis sent to his mother in which he appealed to her to help his children. Martha replies, in part: "…I think it makes me look very small for you to write the like to her when you know that she wont help them just for her to tell about all the country what you wrote her like you had moor confidens in her raising your children than me..." Martha feels she is capable of making it with God's help, despite her lack of friends. She complains that she hasn't gotten a recent letter from him and writes about the cost of food.

Martha Hendley Poteet

Poteet, Martha Hendley "Letter to Francis Marion Poteet, Nov. 24, 1864" North Carolina Digital Collections. Web. 30, Apr. 2012

1864-11-24

Document

Correspondence

Dear husband Nov 24th 1864 I Seat My self this eavning to write you a few lines to let you know that we are still in the land of the living I aint very well the children is well excepting bad colds but I do hope these few lines will Reach your kind hands and find you well I hav got my corn gathered and wheat Sowed I sowed the upper field in wheat the Burk Melisha is out this week after [Burke County militia] deserters they come up with the Johnsons and others and fired on them and they returned the fire and after firing a bout <????> rounds the deserters run in the time of the fray Sydney Poteet got badly wounded in his arm the ball went in below his Elbow went through his Elbow and the ball lodged in his arm above his Elbow it was a large minie ball they got three deserters and loud they killed some they seen them fall yesterday they went to Henry Deales hunting the Johnson and give hally a malling for his sas- sy talk times is very bad here now nbodys life is worth a days perches and I dont look for this war to stop for 4 years yet without the soldiers all comes home they will take Thomas from me next summer and then what will I do George Taylor was after him a few weeks ago brother Thomas has to start back next teusday old Mr <Powell?> is dead Johnathan Walker is in georgia in the gard house the weather is very cold hear now I sent you a box of provision I recon it wasent good you wrote to your Mother and mima to send you a box of pro- vision I hope they will send you somthing good and plenty of it I sent as good as I could get and the baby died in the time I was fixing it and you all so wrote to your mamy to not let your children suffer if we dont keep our selves from suffering with out help from any plase we will perish I think it makes me look very small for you to write the like to her when you know that she wont help them just for her to tell about all the country what you wrote her like you had moor confidens in her raising your children than me she hardly ever gives them an apple to eat much less to keep them from suffering the last apple she gave to me I sent it to you I was all ways one that wasent much cared for my friends are few and fare between God is My friend and helper and his help is worth evry bodys els I haint had no letter sens the 31 of oct I dident write last week I dident fell lik writing if the war dont stop there will be moor children that will perish besids yourn I hav don all the work I could and when I do all I can I cant do no moor if I could make Money I could by corn at Hemphills for 6 dollars a bushels before spring it will be 20 dollars abushel I dont see no sattis- factison if I could I would come and see you but I cant come some times I feel like I cant stand it no longer but hav to put up with it and do the best I can it has ben a long time sense I hav seen you and I dont expect I will see you soon but I hope the Lord will be with you if I cant and bless and save you and shield you from all harm and danger and spare you life to return home in pece soon I will hav to quit my pen has got mad and wont write and I am very cold the children says to tell par howdy I must close M. A. E. Poteet to her loving husband F M Poteet may the Lord bless and save you farewell Francis