James Island June 25 1862
My Dear Sister
I new embrace an oppertunity
of writing you a few lines which I hope
may or will find you enjoying fine health
as for my self I am enjoying fine
health at this time only I hav been
pleaged with risins onn my Sholder
evry since I came down to Charleston
Dear sister you must excuse me for not
writing to you sooner I tell you I hav not
had much time for writen since I
come ond James Island I been in Several
Scrumishes since I came hear but I dont
think it use to relate the whold subject
to you about them I expect you hav herd
all about them before now but I tell
you I hav hird a meniou ball Whistle [1]
round my head I hav saw a heep the
groning of the dead and wounded some
with there heads shot all to peases some
with there legs shot off and I saw several
with there branes shot out and they
was not dead times are tolerble easy since
we had that Battle I thing we give them a
small hint we are expecten a large
Battle before many days we are hear ready
willing and a wating for them if nothing else
will do them but a whippen they can get it
[page 2]
I trust in God that I may come thrue
safe and see the wars to an end nothing
would please me better than to hear of
pease They General talk down hear is
that the wars will come to a close untill
September I hope to God they may
the Regiment in General now are tolarble
Sickly good eal of Feavours our fare such
as powitions are poor Beef and Shingles [2]
little bacon once and a while we do
positively not get Haff fed I hav perish
-ed several times day and knight and
nearley two days that is when I
am onn picket my Dear Sister I hav
been so near worne out I would be onn
picket in the rain and the peases of Bums
falling all round me and drop down
in the rain and go right of to sleep
if they hader let me I stood onn my
post a whole day and knight in fifty
yards of the yankeys some times often
they hav been several caps poped at
me while onn my Post at knight and
it raning all the time to, nothing more
at present let me hear from you soon
I still remains yours affectionat
Brother till Death
Mrs R. E. Jefcoat } Samuel. W. Jefcoat