Item Description: Letter, 10 March 1864, to Joseph S. Espey from his sister Margaret. Joseph was a member of Company D, 65th Georgia Volunteers stationed mainly in Tennessee and Georgia. Joseph’s brother James H. Espey also served in the war, but died in 1862 while stationed near Savannah, Ga.

[Item transcription available below images]

Item citation: From folder 3 of the Joseph Espey Papers #3349-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item Transcription:

Friday Morning we are all well this morning

Texas Valley Floyd Co Ga March 10th 1864

Joseph my dear brother

Another week has passed, & I in my poor way endeavor to again address you whome I so much esteem. We very thankfully received your kind letter of the 28th inst… I read it with much pleasure learning you was still well & situated even as well as you was. I fear you denied yourself of rest you was realy needing in order to write to us. I thank you very much for your kindness in writing & would have been ready to have excused you if you had only wrote that you was well, but then I would have expected a long letter after you was rested. as you know I am exceedingly fond of long letters. We all remain very well only Thos complains of the headache ocasionly he has it this evening. Mary seems to be in better health than she has been for some time. & the rest of her family are well. Mary Hargis has not returned yet that I know of. Adaline Duke is here yet. I have not yet wore out my peace of cloth yet & I only had 18 yds in the price. I have a great deal of hindrence from my work one way & another  we now have seven [nice?] little lambs & 2 of them their mothers disown & they require some attention.

Last Sabbath Thos & me went to church (Armicher) & heard a very interesting  sermon by Parson Austin… on monday father took his tax or tythe bacon to cousin Jos to send to [Kevin?] by cousin Jos as he was going down with his & a portion of wheat Father took some wheat & went on to the mill. he there met with Jos Langston & sold his wheat to him. 13 bushels by weight for $200. on monday evening Johnson the same man I mentioned being here last week come & bought Jeff, he give for him $500 & took him off tuesday morning. on last tuesday three Texas rangers captured a yankee report says they heard of him comeing in this direction at … stillhouse & they came on & over taken between here & Athens & then persued him on by Allens & he surrendered some where near the old ginhouse. They stayed at cousin Jos’ & called for water for their prisoner. & he asked for bread which Mary give him. they said they was taking him on to their camp. Yesterday Father took the last of his wheat to mill, he will probably get the flour to morrow He met cousin Jim comeing up to tell him he intended starting to Atlanta this morning to fund or rather bond his money (as it cant be done safely at home) or get certificats for the bonds which ever it may be.

Father says tell you he has sent what he had on hand of yours & his & all that belonged in the family that was in notes over $5. Horn paid in what he had borrowed all he sent of our own amounted to ($1900) nineteen hundred dollars. he sent $200 of Lt Griffins he says you can tell him. he thought as he had the chance of sending it he had better do so without waiting for further instructions, also tell Lt G. that he went down to the court ground to day it being tax collecting day & paid his (Lt G) tax $9 31/100 as Mr. [Garret?] informed him of its not being paid.

Jno Payne come over last monday morning and paid off the Franks not it amounting to $17 50/100 both principle & interest. Dr. Selman & cousin Jim was arriving to go to gather to Atlanta, as they was both going on like business. You may say to Lt G. his family was well yesterday evening I suppose there was quite a frolick or party at Allens last friday night 3 soldiers came here for breakfast saturday morning the said Mrs. Allen would not let them dance, but after she retired they danced the balance of the night. Mrs A was here the day the party come off at night to get me to warp a piece of cloth. She I think was expecting the fest but if she knew it be that night she pretended as if she did not she very freely expressed that professors that would allow the like should be dealt with.  there was none of the girls that lives in this settlement there only Miss Cate Franks & Mary … Miss Sally Martin was there but her parents heard what was up & sent after her so she went home. I think such conduct is shameful to any community at such a time as this especialy. This is certainly a time requireing true repentance & soberness with a sincere desire to be guided by the Holy Spirit in the path of righteousness. I would not have wrote till after to morrows mail if I had known of any chance chance to have mailed it in a day or two I had liked to have forgot Father said tell you the election is defered till next saturday week. I expect your rations are poor now but I hope you may not suffer I hear some complaint of hard liveing up there. I must close hopeing you are well & that you will be enabled to endure all the hardships that you have to undergo & again be restored to our embrace to live in peace & pleasantness.

I remain sincerely your affectionate sister

F Margaret Espey