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.