Sept the 18th 1863
Dear John I seat my self to drop you a few lines
which I sincarely hope may reach you enjoying good
health as unsual, My Dear I am disapointed in get
ting a letter from you today, I cant imagine what is
the cause, Dear John I am tolerable well, sisy she is not
so well she has had an attact of Croop for the last
two nights past she apears some better to day than
she was yesterday, I hope she will continue to mend
Dear John I have nothing of interest to communicate
to you at this time but I feel like saying somthing
to you if I new what, I am very mutch disheartened
in many instences, an all to geather, makes me
quite unhappy, I am desposed to think all my hap
piest days are past an gon never to return any
more, is it not an awfull condition for us to be in
as for the hapiness we see togeather now is none
we both no we Just as well be dead for we cant be
permitted atall any more to see each other I am tier
d a living sutch a solitary lofe as ours are to us for
this is to be the our portion the continuance of the ware
and I see no hope of its ever ending to our satisfaction
the things are going on alonge these time the yan
kees are in good hopes of subjudicating the south
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and so they may suckeced in there great undertaking
what will be the result when all of you are cilled
and still we are not a free people, wat a sad thought
rooles ove my breast, I am I must confess, alamed it
makes me feel awfill, to see what a pass we have all
comeing to on[c]e a happy people an now to come under
a abolishinest I feel for you. an I only we coul be
as we on[c]e was My Dear John I must com to a close by
saying to you take care of your self and if you never
see me againe, I hope to we may meet where parting will
be felt no more, receive My Love a best respects
sisy sends houdy for pa, she ses She dreams with pa ever
night, she talks of pa every day an want to no when pa will
come, Dear John I will took with a palpilating heart tell
I see coming all I can say is I long to see you againe
Mother sends her respects to you an if she never
has the pleasure of seeing you againe she hope to meet
you a a vetter land than this May wee all meet agan
nothing more a presint I remaine your loving Wife
till Death R. E. Jefcoat