Item Description: Letter dated 4 March 1865 from Mary Satterfield to her son. She expresses her and her husband’s reluctance to send their son any more money, but in the end, she writes that she will send some anyway.
Item Citation: Folder 3, Satterfield and Merritt Family Papers, #04361, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Item Transcription:
March the 4 1865
My Dear Son,
Pattie received your letter yesterday from Raleigh and one from Hillsboro. I was glad to hear from you and troubled to hear that you were sick and so dissatisfied that your letter was one of complaint. I am convinced that you are not treated as you ought to be and if we could do better you should not stay there.
I can’t sleep for thinking about you. You say you hope to soon be called out again. You do so for you have not been in the service long enough to know the sufferings. How greatly our poor soldiers exchange with you if they could. You said you would rather leave than for it to be said about my son that he deserted. I hope you will let and I ask the Lord to help you pray often and direct you in the prayer of your mother.
Your Papa was so troubled when I read your letter to him. He said he could not please you that you thought more of spending money. You have 45 dollars in pocket money and he says that is more than he can afford and is more than he intends to supply.
Well my son I reckon you think Mother is giving one of her lectures this morning may you profit by it is my sincere prayer. I am glad to tell you that Mat is improving. She seemed at one time near the eternal world, but God in his goodness heard the prayers offered in her behalf and has spared to be a comfort to her parents as I hope you will be to yours. Ida Wilkens is quite sick. I haven’t seen her in tens going on to day.
We hear that there is very bad news in the Army as there is from the county. John Whitt, Tom Whitt, Jim Rosewll, three Buchanons, and Moses Chambers is the ring leaders of this outlaw party who I expect for he is mean enough to do any thing. Col. Johns has sent out 90 men in search of them with five days rations. Mrs. Whitt is very much destroyed. She has the sympathy of every one that has seen her. If things continue in such a state long surely we must be a subjugate people. May God deliver us from our enemies ought to be the prayer of every one.
Well my son, it is time for this letter to go to the office so I must close. Write soon and let me know how you are and if you are sick. I am coming to see you, I expect, very soon. I will send you thirty dollars to buy a cap with, it is the last I have. Be a good boy and hope alls well be well.
Your Mother
M.A. Satterfield
