Dear wife and
loving children,
I take this one more opportunity of writing
you a few more lines to let you know that I am well and hearty,
hoping when these few lines come to hand they may find you all well
and doing well.
Martha, if I could see you I could tell
you wonders, but I can’t write it all to you. Martha, I can
say to you that I hant been sick nary once since I left home. I
have been as well as I was at home and I pray that I may never be
sick nary day while here I stay. I pray the Lord that I may be preserved
from the cannon and from the balls while in the war I stay.
Martha, I sent back 60 cents by Livingston
Bond to git 6 stamps for you in Athens. Martha, Alford said he was
a going to git you some salt in Danielsville as he come back. Some
that was coming to you. Write whether you got it or not.
Martha, there has been thousands of Yankees
carried in to Richmond since this fight commenced. I saw 30 of the
Yankees going along the road yesterday. They say that we are gaining
the day very fast since I have been here. I have seen dead men and
sick men and wounded men. Though the army is in better health now
than they have been in some time before. I can hear them a fighting
about 1 and 1/2 miles off.
Martha, I have plenty to eat, such as good
bacon, good flour, some pies, plenty of salt, plenty of crackers
and we have drawed molasses one time. We ate the molasses this morning
for breakfast.
Martha, me and Vandiver is setting under
a big oak writing our letters and it is about one o’clock.
Martha, write where you are today at this time and the children.
Martha, tell Mandy and John and Henry to wear their bonnets and
hats and don’t git sunburned. Tell them that I say for them
to be good children till I come back for I believe that the good
Lord will bring me back again.
Martha, tell Father and Alford and Barry
and Wesley and all the rest to write. Martha, write back whether
you have sold the steers or not. Write how you are coming on with
the farm. Write how the sheep and hogs and cows is coming on. It
will give me satisfaction to hear. If you have got out the wheat
write how much we made. Martha, I would like to know how much corn
I had. I bet the volunteers wives know how much it comes too.
Martha tell Father I dont want him to do
much work in the shop. I am afraid that he will break himself down.
Any how, write whether you have got any letter from Calvin or not.
I have seen William and Dickey Scarborough. Dickey was in a fight
yesterday and got his arm broke. He is badly hurt.
Martha, if I could come home now I would
not take $50.00 for what I have seen. If I just git home I don’t
mind my trip, but I have give myself up in the hands of God for
protection. If it is his will for to bring me home, he will do it
and if it is his will for me not to come home, may I shall never
git there. But his will be done and make me willing to submit to
it.
Martha, I would git my likeness and send
to you but I can’t git it drawn. I can’t find nary man
here to draw it. Martha I want you to serve the Lord and take care
of my little children. Raise them for the Lord. So nothing more
but remains you loving husband until death. Pray for me, write to
me as quick as you git this letter for I shall want to hear.
From Lewis Sartain
To Martha Sartain and children and friends
Transcribed and contributed by
Charlotte Collins
Bond
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