Sullivans Island Dece 21st 1862
Dear Rachel I seat mysel this coal winter
day to drop you a few which leaves me well
hoping this may reach you well. Rachel I have
but little to right to you I thought it proper to
drop you a few lines to let you no that you need
not much Expect me at home chrismas as I have
bin to the Col myself and presented my condition
to him the best way I new how and he refuses to
grant me leaf of absence by saying the General
will not approve of furloughs in such caises . theirefore
I cant see Enney chance to git off unless I run the
blockade and I have a greate mine to do it let the
consiquence be what tha may I am mad Enough
this morning to do most Enney thing I dont ceare much
how soon the Island is attacted. if I cant have a chance
to go home to see to my affairs in such caise as mine
I dont ceare a curse what become of Enney thing elce
I am verry sorry that I cant promis you to be home
to take a chrismas dinner with you as wee have
have but little to Eate heare I would like to
git a satesfaction of something good to Eate once more
I tell you oure living heare is verry hard
wee live on about one meal a day but I hope
you may Enjoy yourself well through the chismas
Dear Rachel as for the matter of breaking up
you will have to manage it according to the best
of your own Jedgment as I cant do Enney thing in
in that case. let things be don as tha may
it will be a perfict smash with all of my
affairs Enney how so doe Enney way you think
proper it will be right with me let the consi=
quence be what tha may alth I would of liked
if what I had could have paid my depts.
or went as fare as tha could towars it but of
carse you and sisey has to live and I supose it had
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as well go that way as Enney other so you
will have to try to worke out your own way
the best you can as it is imposable for me to be
with you, I think I have said Enough on this
subject & I will change to something elce
Dear Rachel I want you to send my shoes and
gloves to me as soon as you can by som trusty purson thats
coming down it woul be some what dangerous to send
them in a box by its self for feare it might be
robed before it reaches heare it would be best
to sen them in ceare of some one I verry much need
them as the weather is so verry coal.
Dear Rachel I must say to you that Miss Ann
Martin has come down again to try to git into bisness
she has aplyed to cook for the mess again part of
the mess is willing to hirer her but myself and
some others have objected to hier her I dont
no how tha will tak it yet but I would not
be suprised if the mess dont split up on account
of it as some of them are anxious to hier her and
others of us are opposed to it. I think she would
look as well at home attending to her own bisness
I dont see what in the devil bisness she has got
heare but I supose she wants to git a little more news
agoing again I could tell you much more if I could see you
so I will drop the subject for the presant
Dear Rachel I about rote out all the news I have
so I bring this to a close by saying that I think
verry hard of my col for not alowing me to go home
but I hope the devil will git his dues some day
theire is no Justis in ware, so I bid you a pleasant
chrismas and a happy new yeare.
accept my best wishes for the welfare
of yourself and my sweet little sisey
tell merry chrismas for pah
Mrs. R. E. Jefcoat your affectionate John. J. Jefcoat