Carlisles [Pa.] nov 21 1864
Mr abarham lincon I wont to knw sir if you please wether I can have my son relest from the arme he is all the subport I have now his father is Dead and his brother that wase all the help that I had he has bean wonded twise he has not had nothing to send me yet now I am old and my head is blossaming for the grave and if you dou I hope the lord will bless you and me if you please answer as soon as you can if you please tha say that you will simpethise withe the poor thear wase awhite jentel man told me to write to you Mrs jane Welcom if you please answer it to
he be long to the eight rigmat co a u st colard troops mart welcom is his name he is a sarjent
[Jane Welcome]
[Jane Welcome] to abarham lincon, 21 Nov. 1864, W-934 1864, Letters Received, series 360, Colored Troops Division, Adjutant General's Office, Record Group 94, National Archives. In the same file is a draft reply from the Bureau of Colored Troops informing Welcome that “the interests of the service will not permit that your request be granted.” (C. W. Foster to Mrs. Jane Welcome, 2 Dec. 1864.)
Published in The Black Military Experience, pp. 664–65, in Families and Freedom, pp. 205–6, in Free at Last, p. 492, and in Freedom's Soldiers, pp. 136–37.