Asheville, N.C. May the 26, 1861 Dear Father It is with great pleasure that James, Silas and myself are all well at present. We will leave this place on Thursday for Raleigh. We have got orders to start North with. You need not write to me at this place. I will write when I get to Raleigh to you. The boys are all in good heart and want to git in a fight. We have all got along fine since we left home. We all think that we will see the good people of Jackson one time more before we die. I think that we are going on a good case and the Lord will be on our side. I will now give you the names in my _______: M.W. Bryson, Joseph Sutton, Silas Sutton, W.J. Allen, D.G. Fisher, Huston Bryson, John Messer & myself. Brother James is at the head of another ______. He is right beside us. The Jackson Company have taken the praise of being the best Company that ever was in Asheville, and the ladies think more of ours than we do of ourselves. We was respectful invited by the ladies to a concert in Asheville the other night. We formed in ranks and march to the place where it was to be. There was three companies in the _______. The ladies formed theirselves and sung the tune of Dixie Land. The Jackson boys will never run from Yankee cannon, sword, nor gun. So I remain your true son until death. John Sutton Give my best respect to all of my friends - especially the girls. John Sutton Since I have sign my name, I heard we would have to go to Virginia to form a regiment of mountain boys to swipe Yankees. We are glad to hear the news -hip hip hip hurrah hurrah hurrah. John Sutton [Ed: Sutton was killed in action in July 1863.]

North Carolina Troops, 16th NC Infantry, Company A

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