Letter, Granville W. Belcher to Mary Caroline Belcher; 30 January 1864

              January the 30 1864 In camp near Kinston My Dear Caroline,
I seat myself this morning to write you a few lines to inform you that I am left here to gard the baggage as I was not able to march. That is the reason I was left here to gard the baggage. Our Brigade left here soon this morning. They are gon towards Newborn, NC. They carried five days rations. I expect they will see the Yankees before they are gonn long. Burton give orders before they left that no man was to be taken prisoner. If they was, they would be hung as soon as Old Butler got them in his possession. Butler hung one of our men in Elisabth Citty sometime last yere. The reason he done that the man was one of gurilla class. They will tell any sort of tail to keep our men from going to the Yankees. It is thought that Old Lee will make a move towards Maryland as soon as he can in the spring.	If he marches his army across the Potomack River again he will break up the arm. To my opinion ther is thousands of the suthern men that swears that they will never cross the Potomack again. If they are forced they will stay there after they get there. That is my motto and I must see you again befere we start. I think sometimes will start home