Laurinburg (,NC)
May 3rd 1863
Dear Aunt,
For the first time I do attempt to write you and let you know that we have past through afflictions this Spring. Walter died the 19 of April [;] he was taken Tuesday night with a chill then with high fever and severe head ake [sic] [.] the measles was in the family and we thought Wednesday morning that it was them he had and so did the Dr and he would not give any medisin [sic] that day [.] Thursday morning his head was no better [.] then the Dr knew it was not measles and commenced giving medisin [sic] but it give him no relief from the pain in his head[.] Saturday the pain went clown in his spine[,] he suffered a great deal with it there that day[.] he said to us that he was going to die and for us not to grieve for him that he was happy and was going to rest [.] Saturday evening he got delirious and remained so til Sunday evening about 4 o clock then he went to sleep as we thought and so did Malloy and Dickson [.] they were both here and thought him much better about Sundown but he never waked and breathed his last at half after eleven o clock that night [.] he suffered a great deal [.] his complaint was an affection of the brain [.] Maggie had the same complaint and suffered a good deal but is as well as ever [.] Mary had it slightly [.] Duncan our baby was taken with whoopping cough in Jan and did not get welt of it[,] then had the measles when Walter was sick [.] we had no idea that he would recover for about a week[,] but is now nearly as well as ever [.] the children all but Archd had the measles and is well now [.] Sallie['s] health is verry [sic] good considering all the sickness and deaths we had [.] my own health is tolerable[;] I had a verry [sic] bad cold and cough but is better now[.] we had a girl of James C. McEachin's hired for a nurse [.] She took the whooppin [sic] in Jan then the measles in the last of March the measles went in the Seccond [sic] day and [then she] was taken with pneumonia [.] She died the fourth day after. Brother Daniels family all of his children has had this affection of the head or brain, but is now well but Baxter he is sick now [.] I think it is sick stomack [sic] and bowel complaint with him [.] his black boy Edward died last Wednesday week [.] he was as well as ever [.] he was told Sunday evening before [that] it was [an] affection of the brain that he had [.] he stood it only two days and a half[.] his other boy Sandy has been down two weeks with the same complaint but is a great deal better now and I think will soon be as well as ever [.] Catty has another son[,] he is a month or more old now[.] her health is better than it had been after havin [sic] a son for the last three or four. Daniel['s] health is as good as ever [.] Sister Sarah had a son the 9[th] of this month and was getting along verry [sic] well [.] there has been a great deal of sickness through this section this Spring the greater potion amongest negroes[.] James C. McEachin lost three[,] Peter Patterson had 6 or 7 down but all is ur but Cloy [.] they do not expect her to get up any more [.] Dr Dickson is nearly brok down him self and his horse quits[.] he says if he cant get another horse soon he well have to get Rev. D. Johnson to go with him to keep him strait [sic] or from swearing [.] his Black and old dobbin died this Spring [.] all your old friends and relations about Laurinburg are well at this time but W H McLaurin he was wounded in the late battle at Federicksburg through the fleshy part of the thy [sic][.] he is getting a long verry [sic] well [.] Murphy McCormick was killed in that battle[.] that was all that was killed of the origional [sic] company[.] several wounded[.] a geat [sic] many changes in this neighbourhood [sic] since you left[.] dear aunt I have thought of you all often since you left but did not miss you so much til [sic] we had so much sickess [sickness] this spring[.] If you were settled where you expected to remain I would try and go and see you and if it would be where we could educate our children we would move if times would admit of it as we are gettin [sic] willing to leave here[.] all sends love to you all[,] write soon

Your nephew
John McIntyre