Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources
Since Francis’ last letter May 31, Francis’s regiment has become embroiled in the Siege of Petersburg which will last ten long months. The First Battle of Petersburg took place June 9 and little did she know, Francis was engaged in the Second Battle as Martha sat to write the following letters. This battle took place June 15-18, 1864.
In these letters, Martha seeks Francis’s guidance regarding the wheat harvest, suggesting Francis seek a furlough to come home to harvest. She writes that 15-year-old Thomas has plowed the corn. She mentions their new daughter, born May 21, and asks what Francis wants to name her. She mentions Francis’s mother, Susannah, and sister, Jemima (my third great-grandmother) had been to visit. She also mentions that Governor Vance is scheduled to be in the nearby town of Marion to speak the following week, but that she wants her husband to vote for Holden of North Carolina’s newly formed “Peace Party”, not Vance. This must have been due to a great desire to see the war end and her husband and many others come home so life could return to some semblance of normalcy. (Holden won only 3 counties in the 1864 election-Johnston, Randolph, and Wilkes. However, he was appointed governor after the war ended.)
“June the 16 1864
“Dear husband I cant get no person to cut my wheat the men says that they dont know what will be don with the wheat for there aint men to cut it and if I dont get Mine cut me and the children will be bound to suffer I would like for you to show this to your Capt and tell him if he pleases to let you come home a few days the first of July to take Care of it for me I have about 8 bushels sowed and no person to cut a straw of it it rains so much that we cant get to work the corn scearsley and the Mare has had the distemper and scurvey but is better now I had her bled and I want to know what to do with hink
“M.A.E. Poteet to F.M. Poteet god bless you [Postmark and addresses on page 2] Privit F.M. Poteet Co. A 49 Redgment N C to M.A.E. Poteet Dysartsville Po McDowell County N C [Up-side down at top of page 2] Remember me in love and I will you Farewell dear Francis”
“June the 16 1864
“My Dear husband I seat My self this evening to write you a few lines to let you know how we are Some of us is not well me and Thomas Francis Emer Susannah Amy Jane has the bowell complaint I aint Much sick but I do hope these few lines May Reach your kind hands and find you in good
Courtesy of NC Dept of Cultural Resources
health My corn looks very well Thomas will finish plowing it the second time today we hav this side the Creek to hoe My Neighbours says that if nothing happens I will Make a heap of Corn the sweet potatoes is very prety and the irish potatoes is the pretyest I ever seen I hav a mess today I wish you was hear to eat some with me I would be so glad I would not know how to behave I hav to live very hard I haint nothing Much to eat but bread and not Much of that if you was hear I would not hav to live so hard nor I woudent hav to work when I was not able My baby will be 4 weeks old Saturday Night she was born the 21 of May write to Me what to name her I had the best time I ever had and I hav bin the stoutest ever sens I haint lay in bed in day time in two Weeks today I thank the Lord that he has answerd your prayers and mine beyon what I could expected but he has all power I feel very thankfull that it is as well with you as what it is I hope that God will bless us to be spared to rais our children your Mother is well her and Jemima Come to see me yesterday Grason Dickson run away and got to Camp Vance and had to go back I dont want you to vote for vance vote
“for Holden vance is to be in Marion next Monday to speak James Neal has bought 500 bushels of corn for this County but it haint come yet and he says that when they eat it they may die and go to hell Louis Walker and Tery Walker is at home wounded your Mother says tell you howdy for her and the children sends you howdy and tell you that they hav to work very hard and wishes you was hear to help them <??????????????????????> this evening I would like to hear from you to know if you hav got hurt I am very uneasy about you I do hope and pray that God will shield you from all harm
Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources
Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources
and danger and spar your life to come home to me and your little children I know that you want to see your sweet little baby I would be very glad to see you if I could but I cant nor I dont know whether I ever will or not God knows I dont you dont know what a hard time I hav I am ruined if you dont never come home I cant work another year as hard as I hav this if the children was not as good as they are I dont know what I would do the Lord has blessed us and I hope he will continue to bless us while we are separated and bring us together agin in this life pray for us my Dear that we dont perish thread is 100 dollars Cotten is two dollars apound I dont know what I am to do but I will do the best I can and trust in God for help all of our help comes from him write to me soon wen I can hear fom you and hear that you are well it dos me a heap of good May the lord bless and save you is the prayer of your desolate Wife farwell my Dear husband
“M. A. E. Poteet to her loving husband F. M. Poteet God bless and save you”
“the sise of the babys hand” [Transcribers Note: The image is significantly larger than the actual cutout of the baby’s hand.]
Courtesy NC Dept of Cultural Resources
Don't Forget Where We Came From 