Sullivans Island Oct 23rd 1862,
Dear Wife I had the pleasure
of receiving your of the 21 inst
to knigt and was hapy to heare
from you and that you ware well
but I am verry sorry to heare that
my little sisey was so unwell with
a riseing on her leg but I hope it
will not termintat in Enny thing
serious as for myself I am in toler=
able good helth better than when
you left me. Dear Wife wee have
strikeing news heare Just at this
moment I am roused up to nigt at
1 oclock to pack up our clothing and
prepare three days rashing and be
ready to march at a moment
warning as the yankes have landed
some 10 or 12 thousands troops at
crusihachie an have taken posession
of the railroad beteen charleston
and savanah it is now 1 oclock
[page 2]
and wee will be ready to march
by day light to meet them if the
general makes another call
so you must Ecuse this hayst ritten
letter as you may no it is don in the
greatest hurry and you may well
imagine my feelings at this time
if the Regt has to go I Expect to
be one in the crew to doe my
duty Dear Wife in your letter you
stated that their ar missstake
in the amount of money I give
you I have tried to calculat it
up and I make it out about the
same as I thought it was when
you left which was 64 or 5 Dollar
but I may be misstaken if I lost
Enny I cant see when or wheare
I could posable have bin don so
you must count it over again
per haps you have made a missstake
[page 3]
in counting it but if it is gon
it is through some unavoiedable
axident that cant be helpt
therefore let it go and dont grieve
after it you spoke in you letter
about what I thought would be
best to do about meet hogs as all
of the little sows had pigs
I am unable to say at this time
what would be best for you to do
you most git Father to idvise you
what he thanks would be best for
you to do I am so much confused
at this time I hardy no what I am
righting so you must git your friends
to do the best tha can for you
as you no you cant promis yourelf
much farom me at this critical hour
of the war there fore I hope you
will Excuse me for not giving you
a more Explcit answer on this point
[page 4]
Dear Wife I hope you will not
niglect enny posable ceare whatever
of sisey as she is sick you must
poltice the rising well and do Enny
thing you posable can to cure her
legs wheare the musciters bit her
and if a doctor is needed dont
wait a minute but send after
him Dear Wife I am verry sorry
that Box that Ca[l]vin b[r]ougt down
could not reach the Island tonight
as our boat did not run this Eavning
he had to come by mount pleasant
he left the Box in charleston and
I am afraid we wont have time to
get it this morning I would like to
have a drink this morning Dear Wife
I must close by hoping that nothing
but good helth an good luck may attend
you an all during our seperation
accept a cherful hou[yde?] and good bye
a ciss for your clf an sisey J J Jefcoat
R. E. Jefcoat