Item Description: A letter, 15 February 1863, from Charles Atwood to William Pettigrew at Haywood, N.C. Atwood sought information about the pending arrival of Dick, a slave he apparently agreed to hire out from Pettigrew. His letter also suggests that there was a ready market for hiring out of slaves in Winston in the winter of 1863, but mysteriously raises concern about the condition of Pettigrew’s slaves that were already in Winston.

Item Citation: From folder 261 in the Pettigrew Family Papers #592, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Item Transcription:

Winston Feb 15th 1863

Mr. William Pettigrew

[Haywood, N.C.]

I received your kind not sometime ago but as my wife was  not able to move that was the reason why I did not write sooner. she can be up part of the time now but the weather is so bad ther is no chance to get off D. E. T. Zevely said it would not be advisable to leave until she was able I think I shall be able to vacate the house this week. I would like to know wheather I am to have Dick or not I can not wait longer than Sunday 29 he is not hear bye that time I shall hire a boy from some one els If you were hear with your boyes you would have no trouble to get shut of them, your Negrows are not all well the weather has been rough we have been bless with plenty snow and hail. write me soon and let me when you will be able to send me Dick yours

Charles Atwood