Dear husband 

I seat my self this evening to let you know that we are all well at this time and i hope it will find you well. Health is the main point. I recieved your kind letters the 29th and was sory to hear that you was not well but it is no wonder if you would die the way you have to do. I got your letter from ash an opened it an read it an thair was no news in it only that rush was not dead for he was well the 4th may an in good health. He said they was all well. Thomas I have not got enough sens to right you a letter that would interrest you. War News thare was a dispatch come to town Wednesday that they was a fiting at richmond but we aint heard yet how they made it We heard that thay had a fight whare Jason is and the yankees whiped them an that our men was all cut to peices. I did now how meny was kiled on our sid but I forgot. I heard that if our side whiped at richmond an beauagard whips whare he is that will end the war. Ailso the yankees say they wont fight any longer than June for they couldent stand the hot wether an they are a bout to starve. They has bin runers seen close to ______ they was four in number they all had guns old Cap Grubb saw them. When they saw him they all squated down he seen them at the big cut neset to the bridge they was behind the cut like in a hollar. Jackson has had a fight an whiped the yankees they took 4000 prisners. The men is all caled from 16 to 55 an that will take all the men that is left. Old cap an sam hilten says that they will kill some body before they will go. Thomas I will relate to you a bout Andred J hilten which you would not believe if any body els would tell you. Well I will tell you what it is he goes to se Jane Snavely old Jims wife. He stays thare all the time most an she brags how they do play checker all Sunday an last sundy they went to else snavelys an rode. She said her an andy had a mery trip over thare.  They are a going to town tomorrow enough about that. Thomas we are a going to sufer for we cant get no meat in town I got alittle at spanglers last weak. I will tell you here that old peler is mitynear no more in the land of the living he is got the dropsy all over it is in his legs an body and face he cant lie down to sleep any more for fear he will smother to death. Thomas I have to do most evIy thing that is to do my self I jest have got done cleaning up rye to send to mill we aint got any rye out of the mill since you left we have bin a eating corn bread pretnear all the time. I aint got the rye all thrashed yet. Jake hilten thrashed out some of it and the balance is thare a geting wasted for the chickens and rats have destroid it nearly. I forgot to say while I was a righting a bout spanglers that we got Jasons colt in paster thar till Jace comes home. Jace said in his letter that he would be at home before long. You wanted to no how mutch corn we planted we laid off the field about the stable an planted it without plowing it an then we plowed the dam field before we planted it. The wheat looks frustrate what is standing up but thare is so mutch fell down the joint worm is so bad this year they are in evry bodys this year that little patch of rye looks fine We have a tollarbie good garden it keeps me busy to do all the weding and hoing in the gardin. All though I have  wool presed and greesed and I will send it to the masheen to morrow I made a wool picken and picked all the white wool in wone day I kep five 1/2 pounds Out to make you cloths an I want to color it black and miset it. Wool is so high for carding. Uncle Joe had the ninth pound for carding eight he has wone Spracher eight cents a pound in season and ten out of season. And I dont no what uncle andy has I am a going to send mine up thare any how. Your dady is going up thare and I will send it along.
Thomas I would like to no how you like to wash by this time are whether you wash your self or not. I have got your shirt done and got you a pair of socks to send when I send the shirt it is a getmg late I will quit for the night.
Well I seat my self this morning to finish my letter if I can set up long enough I got up sick this morning with a bowl complaint and puking an sick at the stumach. I have not felt well all weak but I thought I would not say any thing a bout that I havent had a appatite to eat for a weak or more. Thomas What Would you say if we would call Reuben Reuben Paulett. They call him Paulett all the time an he looks so mutch like him: Reubin grows fast. Cooper cries for you some times he says that he wants to go to town and se pa I have never heard Jace say any thing about you but I heard him call you wonst.
Thomas if your father dont come over thare I wish you would txy and come your home your self and get your cloths and bring your money I nead some money now all though I am not out I have got a dolar and a half yet after geting four dolars worth of meat and other things fat to greece my wool with and your shirt an me a bonet and paid miss hilten.
What I want withe the money is to get some coten it is four dolars a bale now an they say that it will soon be five. Sal wants shirts an dresses now.
In your other letter you thought you would come back to camp Jackson but you said nothing about that this time; and that was all that kep me chered but now my hopes is all blasted I wish you would tell me whether you do esepect to come or not or whether you are going to stay thare ar where you are a going. Your father dont now whether he will come or not yet he says that he has hardly got time I will tell you how we do for wood sometimes we have to cary it two or three days but Jim awlways cuts enough for morning if it is here he has mised cuting it wonst or twist an Sal would have to get up an cut it before we could built a fire I will tell you what your father does we most evry evening go to whare you cut tiths an get a load of kindlin and put it in the chimney corner and he will come and take it a way evly time he wanst to beuild a fire to kindle with but now we cary it in the house and he aint bold enough to come in the house after it.

Thomas: I hope the time will soon come
When the yankees the South may run
When you can come and see you sons three
And Squire and love and sleep with me 
Dont make fin of my fine poetry

Remain Your Affectionate Wife untile

Death

Frances A Fisher
Your Well Wisher
 

Note: portions of paper torn

(Mildred Riggle Brown: original)
 

COPYRIGHT© 1998 Dianne McGinley Gardner - All rights reserved.  Copies for personal use and research may be freely made.  Commercial use is prohibited without permission.