this 22nd /64
Sulls Island Battery Marcial Feb
Dear Rachael I again seat myself
to drop you a few lines which
leaves me tolerable well altho
I have not bin to say harty sience
I came heare but I am up nocking
along the best I can I hope this
may reach you and all well
I have not yet received Eney
letter from you but Expect
to git one to night I am righting
this to send by W. B. Livingston as
he is Expecting to leave to morrow
morning on a 48 hours permit
I also send you a half quire of
paper by him you will see it is
in large sheets and not ruled
it is best to right on it as you see
I have don this half sheet cut it
in two and double it then it is
[page 2]
the sise of common paper as
you see this is don Just at this
time while righting I receive
yours of the 19th inst and am glad to
heare from you and that you are
all well this is the only consol-
ation I have heare and I hope
the blessing may continue with
you, Dear Rachael I have no news
of interest to right you at this
time the yankey fleet have bin
firing heavy saloots all day to
day I supose on account of its
being Washingtons burth day
some of theire shot feel neare us
but I think but little dama=
=ge don yet but I Expect wee
will have some stering times
towards spring comeing
[page 3]
Dear Rachael I riten to you
the day after I landid heare
but I see no account of it in
yurs to day it may be delayed
on the way or you may have
neglected saying Eney thing
of it in your letter I dont no
Dear Rachael I must say to
you that we have had some
cold days as Ever I felt sience
I came back but it has some
what moderated now I hope
to stay so for a while wee git
but little wood to burn heare
and the water is bad you
may gess we are not as comfortable
situated heare as we ware on
Mount pleasant but our
rashings are much better
than tha ware on Mt Pleasant
[page 4]
but I cant say how long tha
will remain so Dear Rachael
alow me to say to you again
to try to have my catle better
attendid to or tha must certai
=nly die this cold weather
if you can doe no better try
to have some of my fodder hauld
for them and feed them to
themselfs you understand my
Meaning try some sunday to
git the nigroes to hunt for
your goat ann see if it is dead
or a live I close hoping to heare
from you soon something Good
My kinest regards and best
wishes for yourself and children
Give the family my love and
respects tell sisey she must
right to pah your affectionate
Mrs R. E. Jefcoat John