Sullivans Island July 28th /63
Dear Rachel I seat myself to drop
you a few lines which leaves me
in tolerable helth tho not well
I have no news I consider of greate
importance to right you as for the
bombardment of Morris Island it
has become to be a commen Evry day
buisness it is still going on yet I cant
tell how long it will remain so
Morris Island is a greate slaughter pen [1]
our Regt has alredy loss 15 or 20 men
by going theire wee all have orders
to go theire to night wee will have
to stay theire some 4 days I Expect
to go with the regt but it is verry
unceartin who of us will returne
I will carry nothing with me but
the clothing that I weare and blanket
the rest of my things I will leave heare
with James Hooker and if I should
not git back for him to send them
home you can have some Idia
wheare tha may be
[page 2]
I am Entirely at a loss to no what
to say more that would be of Enney
use I must confess that the time has
come that it is imposable for me to right
you a letter as it aught to be I have not
deceite Enough it is Just so and I cant
help it that is me tho I may dye tomor=
=row but such rightin as this I consider
fool let thing rip I have not got Enney
letter from you this mail I dont no the
caus it may be don for retaliation by my
not righting regular some time back if so
it is all right if you are Enney way tightly
ingaged other wise imploye and cant well
spair the time I will chearefulley Excuse
you Entirley use your pleasure and Ile
doe the same no one inqured this I think
Enough without it [w??] letter I close
you will accept of as much of my
Respects as you may think you Desrve
your unworthey J.J.Jefcoat
so good night
such as the above is unplesant to me but it
is what former conduct has don for us