Letter to a Soldier (1863)

MARSHALL, MADISON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

July 20[?], 1863.

H.W. REVIS:

DEAR HUSBAND: I seat myself to drop you a few lines to let you know that me and Sally is well as common, and I hope these few lines will come to hand and find you well and doing well. I have no news to write to you at this, only I am done laying by my corn. I worked it all four times. My wheat is good; my oats is good. I haven’t got my wheat stacked yet. My oats I have got part of them cut, and Tom Hunter and John Roberts is cutting to-day. They will git them cut to-day.

I got the first letter yesterday that I have received from you since you left. I got five from you yesterday; they all come together. This is the first one I have wrote, for I didn’t know where to write to you. You said you hadn’t anything to eat. I wish you was here to get some beans for dinner. I have plenty to eat as yet. I haven’t saw any of your pap’s folks since you left hone. The people is generally well hereat. The people is all turning Union here since the Yankees has got Vicksburg. I want you to come home as soon as you can after you git this letter. Jane Elkins is living with me yet. That is all I can think of, only I want you to come home the worst that I ever did. The conscripts is all at home yet, and I don’t what they will do with them. The folks is leaving here, and going North as fast as they can, so I will close.

Your wife, till death,

MARTHA REVIS.

Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, v. 23, pt. II, p. 951.