Letter from Jesse Catlett Hall (b. 20 Nov. 1836 in Haywood Co. NC) to his sister Mary Angeline Hall Roberts (b. 17 Aug. 1835 in Haywood Co. NC) living in Etowah Co. AL

Camps near Chatanooga, Tenn
Mrs. M.A. Roberts Aug 29 /63

Dear Sister and family after my best respects to you all i will inform you that i am well at this time hoping these few lines will come to hand in due time and find you and family well. I received your cind address of the 23 inst and was (proud?) to hear from you all once more and to hear that you was all well and doing well and that you had a good crop, i haven't any thing verry interesting to write they ar a trying to fight a little here, they ar shelling one a nother a cross the river. i expect they will fight here before long. i don't think that Bragg has any notion of giving up this place they say the yanks is as thick as black birds on the other side of the river.

Mary i would like to come verry much to see you to git that brandy you wrote a bout and the potato and the peach pie for i don't git any such eatables as that and you may believe that it would bee verry excetable with me, tell Aunt Margret that i would like to have that pot of beans to eat i can't express my self for such things. you maby can give a guess for i hardly ever git any thing but a little beef and bred and once and a while a little bacon. i am glad to hear that you ar having good meetings i would like to bee at them but it is out of the question to think about it, i am a going to try to git to com home as soon as this flurry is over. and if i don't git to come you must all pray for me at your good meetings. i have never heard from fletcher yet i am a feard he is dead. we have some good meetings in camps.

Mary you wrote to no whither i had seen any girl that i thought a nuff of to take out of the weather. i hav not Mary it is disgusting to any boddy that is fond of virtue and morrality to bee a bout Chattanooga. oh at the wickedness at the wickedness there is in its vicinity it looks to me like they was not a one a bout Chattanooga. you wrote you could pick out one that i would like. Mary you and Aunt Margret noes what sort of a girl i like. if you can find one of the rite sort you must keep her in reserve for me. Mary i want you and Aunt Margret to live faithful and discharge your christin duties and pray for me. tell the children that i want to see their (lean?) expression it allmost make me shed tears to think that i have neases and nephews and even brothers and sisters that i would not no if i wer to meet them in the road i hav bin gon so long i will haft to close for want of room and time to write. write soon and offer no more at present but remains your affectionate brother untill death.

J C Hall to M A & Margret Roberts & family