Mount Pleasant Nov 17th 1863
Dear Rachel I have Just had the
pleasure of receiveing yours of the
13th inst but verry sorry to heare
that you and sisey are so unwell
but I hope you are both better by
this time but if sisey is still sick
with feever you must not neglect
her but send for the Doctor if you
think it nessary and git him to
right a certificit and send to me
and it is likely I could git a furlough
to come home and see her some heare
doe git off on such occasions as that
and I would try wee have not got
orders yet to organise our cavelry
company but wee are Expecting to
git them Everry day but it is uncertain
when tha will come as tha have bin
alredy a long time talking about
it altho the captain thinks tha
[page 2]
will be certain to come some day
and I sinceily hope tha may I am
giting verry anxious to quit this
kind of servis and try the change
our duty here is verry hard at this
time wee have to go on picket Evry
other night on Sullivans Island and
you may gess how disagreeable it is to
be put out on the open beach all
night in the cole not alowed to have
one sparke of fire and nothing to
shelter us but one blanket rain or
shine doe you think theire is Enney
comfort in such a life as this there
is not but no End to Exposier and
wee have to doe this on half rashin
gs wee git but little to Eate often
dry corn bread and some time not
that but I must say that I am
standing it Extreamly weell
considering much better than
[page 3]
I Ever could have Expected I am
quite well in helth but always
in want of something good to
Eate the rest of the boys is also well
but no doubt would be glad of a
good meal as well as myself
Col Dantzler and the band boys
are trying verry hard to git the
band up again tha are all in
for it but myself tha have bin
doing theire best to git me into it
but I refused to doe so tha then wan
=ts to git my instrument but I told
them tha could not git that
so I want you to put my instrue=
ment up and let no one have it
tha may try to take the advantage
of me and git some one to go theire
and git it unbenoing to me
so you may be prepared for such a
thing should the undertak to doe so
[page 4]
Dear Rachel I have no news of im=
=portance to right you concerning
the Enemy tha are still peging
away at sumter but tha dont
appeare to be doing but little dam=
=age I woul be verry glad to have some
of that good bear to drink which you spo
ke of but I hope things may worke
favourable for us yet so we may all
git home together once more but
I Expect I would keep you mad
all the time for I would have
Obliege to ran round a little
for sport and that you no would
make you rathey you need not take
those little Matter to heart for I dont
Expect tha will Ever amount to Eney
big thing I clos e give my love to sisey
Ann and Mother and family
a due portion for yourself your
affectionate lover till Death
Mrs R. E. Jefcoat } John. J. Jefcoat