Texas Valley Geo March 17th, 1864

Mr. Jos S Espey – My much loved brother – I am again favored with the privilege of responding to your very kind & interesting letter of the 7th inst – which we duly received & read with much pleasure. I have long since learned to look for the arrival of our weekly mail with much interest – for I always expect something from you — I hardly know how to write in order to interest you for all that I can think of seems of such little importance. But however I will try to proceed & not be entirely void of interest – so before proceeding further I will state that we still all remain well – and I hope you are still in good health – – Cousin Jos returned home last Saturday – he had no difficulty in making the trip he had no counterfeit money in any he took he taken for several persons I don’t know how many or how much – he deposited the money & received certificates for it – – – – If you can’t do anything with what you have try and send it home & father says he will send or try to send it off – it is said that it can’t be taken in only even hundreds – perhaps you can put yours in with some person & make out another hundred – – There is two soldiers here to night that say they are just from Dalton & say that there is a [?] agent [?] there in the army if it be so you will perhaps have but little trouble in getting what you have fixed up. Those soldiers report everything quiett in the front they say they are on the hunt of two men that has stolen horses from their command – one of the horses stolen they say belonged to capt Coon of Cleveland Tenn – – – night before last a soldier staid here that said his home is in Lookout Valley near Mr Grayson he said he had just left there a few days ago & Mr Grayson’s family was well he says he was captured a few days after he returned from here & the Yankees made him take the oath & he is now at home – preparing to make a crop himself – – the soldier bringing this news represents Dade as being in a bad condition a great many Lincolnites there & not much to eat – – – – The yankee prisoner affair I mentioned last week – I understand was nothing or a little worse than nothing they I suppose had had a little too much liquor a head – so concluded to have a frolic & sent one of their own crowd on a head for the yankee – if their intention was to raise excitement I don’t think they was well paid for there trouble for there was but very little if any – – – – Last Saturday Father opened his seed potatoes & found them tolerable sound he ? 2 bushels for ourselves – there had been a great many wanting seed potatoes – so on Monday he devided out what few he had I think there was about 8 ½ bushels in all he sold them at $10 per bu – – – Judge Selman come up himself to get his share & Parson Austin came up himself for his & Mr. McKinney for his but I am rather unfortunate I went with Mrs. Griffin to Mr. Callahan’s to get her seed potatoes but they had rotted – so Father had to let her have a few, & the old widows came while we was gone Mrs. G staid here Monday night we spent the day very very pleasantly with Mrs. Callahan or at least what time we was there – while we was there Miss [?] Duke sent & got a half gallon of syrup for her weding which was to come off the next day I have not heard any more from it she was to marry a Mr. Beard a cousin to her – – – – [?] & me & Adaline went to church last Sabbath & Mr. Martin a very interesting sermon [?] you may find in the firs epistle of Jno 3rd chap & part of the 8 verse (For this purpose the son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil) There has been preaching at Armuchee every Sabbath in this month & there is an appointment there next Sabbath & the following one – Adaline & me call & spent an hour or too with Mrs. Buffington’s very pleasantly & then her Brother was there which of course made our visit more pleasant – – – By our last weeks mail I received a letter from cousin Sam he said he was in good health & cousin Jos Hargis also they was at Mobile when he wrote which was the 26 [?] – – – Aunt Amy was here last Tuesday they was all well then. The weather has been very cold this week for the season – I hope though you have been able to keep yourself comfortable – – Adaline sends her respects & the love of all of the family you will remember & much too – May you ever be guided in paths of pleasantness – is the desire of your humble but loveing sister

F Margaret Espey

PS March 18th We are all well this morning & Father is aiming to go to the Po. to day I hope you will excuse this poorly pened letter I am ever you loveing sister
F.M.E.
Mrs. Go I think is looking for Lt if he comes we will expect a letter