Sulls Island March 17th 1864
My Dear Rachal
It is with the greatest
pleasure that I seat myself to right
you a few brief lines which leaves
me quite well hoping this may reach
you and all in the best of helth
My Dear I riten you on the 15 inst
but for special perpious I right you
this to day and will send it through
the care of F Livingston
My Dear I see wheare tha might be
a chance for me to git a twenty days
furlough if I ware home a while tha
are giving 20 days furlough to Eney soldier
that will git a recruit that is not Eight
=teen years old but their parence has to
give a cirtificate that tha are wiling
for them to become a member of the
company I have bin thinking tha are
some yong men in that section of
contry that Isent quite Eighteen yet
[page 2]
and likely tha had rather Joine a company
that tha prefer a little before tha become
Eighteen than to wait til afterwards
and perhaps be sent wheare tha have
no acquaintance or choise of compay
Capt Dannelly would not be aloawed
to take in Enny recruit after he is
Eighteen but he is alowed to recruit
under Eighteen and rais his company
to one hundred and thirty Eight
Pickens Chavis has Just left to day on
20 days furlough by giting his Brother
in the company. he ses he intends giting
3 or 4 more before he comes back and Just
live home on furloughs of that kind
so I want you to look round or fit father
to do it and see if you cant git one for
me and disapoint chavis in giting them all
I think tha might be a chance of giting
one from John Knights as I have under
stood that Hane has sed she wished
[page 3]
that Jimma was in this company
he would soon be Eighteen and the
conscript would take him so I
would like for you to find out soon
as you can if John knight or Jane
are wiling for him to Joine the compa
and if Jimma wishes to come in this
company he will be alowed to doe so
and if he comes in this compay of corse
we will doe the best we can towards
his well fair I want you to see after this
matter soon as you can or git father to doe
so for you as Pick is beting on him for
another furlough but I dont wish
Eney one to purswaid him nor his
parance but let them no that he
can come in the company if he wishes
and if he does so let me claim him
as my recruit and not let chavis
have all the furloughs, perhaps you
might see a chance of wome one Elce
that wishes to Joine the company
[page 4]
so if theire is Enny chance of that
kind I want you to git me a recruit
but doe it on good and friendly
tearms, My Dear I have no news to
interest you with the yankes appears
to be increasing their forces on Morres
Island are verry buisy in passing
with wagons and teams, likely wee
may have some stearing times soon
tha have bin some yankey ladys seen
riding up and down the beach on
Morres Island yesturday
My Dear I will close as perhaps I
have already worried your pation
in reading as I have riten much
more than I intended when I comenced
accept much love for yorself and
childrin Give my Respect to all
the family your affectionate
Housband till death
Mrs R E. Jefcoat { John J Jefcoat