Mt Pleasant May 21st 1864
Dear Rachael
With much pleasure
I seat myself to write you a few
breif lines which leaves me in
tolerable also the rest of the boys
Calvin is still in the Hospital
but is rite pirt tho not able to
doe duty or travil I hope this
May reach you and the childrin
all well, My Dear I Expect the
Next letter you receive from me
will be Headid near Richmond
Va we have made another start
we are on Mt Pleasant cooking
rashings fo the trip we feel cofident
that we will make the trip this
time Col Keitt ses wee will
leave tomorrow at 12 Oclock he
ses this Reegt has bin chosen for
the purpos of garding the city of
[page 2]
Richmond as a provorse Gard
this may be true but I doubt it
it is my opinion that we will
have some hard fighting to doe
insted of garding going Richmond and
no doubt meney of us are going
never to return and none can
tell who it will be we can
only trust in providence for the
future you Need not writ to me
again untill you hear from me
for I consider it very uncertain
wheare we will stop but as
soon as we station ourself I
will write you amediantly
My Dear if your papy should
fail in giting Bull to take
the money for my Note I would
not like for you to take it unless
it could be paid out for my
debts the same as I take if for tha
will not take it in charlston without
[page 3]
a discont but if your pah can
pay it out on Eney of my notes
it will all be right with me
I am owing Fed and Henry Livingston
both perhaps he mught git one or both
of them to take it if he is anxious
to pay the note My Dear I want
you to pay Father for the mending
of my instrument which I
forgotin to tell you when I
left My Dear I am at a loss what
to write you concerning the
news in gineral on the war
no doubt you have heard fiting
in Virginia with great loss of life
perticularly among the Enemy
the yankeys admit a loss of 45
thousand but General Lee gives
theire to be 60 sixty thousand
our loss is said to be light
and we still hold our ground
[page 4]
Col Keitt ses it is the opinion
of the publick goverment
that we will have peace in
three Months I hope it may
be true My Dear should I never
see you again in life I hope you
will Remember my advise
and the request which I have
made of you before I left you
I close biding you and affectionate
farewell, give sisey my love
tell her pah is gon to Virginia
give the family my love and
Respects I Remain as Ever
your affectionate Husband
till Death, Adue to you all
Mrs, R,E, Jefcoat } John J. Jefcoat