Sep 24, 1862

A present to John M Cole

By his father John Cole

And his gun is for Robert Cole

and it is his grandfathers

Until he gets able to use

It so may God Bless my

Wife and children for ever

More John Cole. To

His wife and children

And Robert must let some

one keep your gun for you un

till I get home an the

Rebels gets out of the country

And I send one blanket to my

Wife for the purpus of

Keeping her children warm

This winter. God save the

Union is my dying words

And my wife and children

John Cole

as transcribed by Mark Carroll from a document filed in the Lee County library.

John Cole was alleged to be one of four brothers who fought for the Union, but the only one to survive the war.