Peters Burge June 22nd 1864
My Dear Rachael With plesure
I seat myself to respound to yours
of the 10 which came duly to hand
a few days ago I was gratifyed to hear
from you once more and to hear
that you ware well but sorry
to heare that my little babe
was unwell with dirah but I
trust she is better by this this
leaves me well also the rest of the
boys hoping it may reach you all the
same My Dear we have mooved some
considerable distance sience I rote
you last we Marched down the
James river some 15 miles to
Malvin hill there the Enemy
crossed the river on the South
side then we ware ordered to
March up the river some ten
miles to the uper pontoons and
crossed then Marched to this pelace
[page 2]
Which is 22 miles from Richmond
directly on the road that we came
out here on when we reached here
we found the Enemy in ½ Miles
of Peters Burge our men went amedia
=ntly into the fight and brought
the Enemy to a hault tha have bin
fighting Evry day more or less Ever sience
some few have bin killed in the Regt
an several woundid capt Dannelly
have loss 3 woundid but non killed
yet the woundid are are Vandy
Crim Jacob Cook Wilson King
Crim was shot through both legs
one was taken off Cook throug the
flesh part of the hip king through
the hand it is thought his hand
may hace to be taken off we cant
tell yet what will be the result
of the fight tha have threw severl
shell in the city but not doing
much damage
[page 3]
My Dear I am verry sorry indeed
to hear that B.J.P. Jefcoat is missing [1]
and from what I have heard from
men in his Comp he is cirtainly
killed Sam ses that ben told him
when he startid in the fight that
he would not come out poor ben I
am so sorry to part with him this
cruel war is calculatid to seperate
for life the nearest relation and
best of friends and all the tears
we should shed for them could not
bring them back I have seen more
of it than I Ever wanted to see
there is allways some one groaning
and dying heare with us arms and
legs taken off and Evry kind of
wound you could think of
My Dear you wanted to no of me
how I liked Richmond it is a
fine place I like it and the
[page 4]
country very well it is a fine
Rich country all throug where
I have traviled the weather here is
very dry at this time and disagreeable
traviling when we are marching we can
some times scircly git breth for the dust
and when we stop after traviling some
distance you could scircly tell the
culler of you clothing for the dust
there was nothing said to me for over staying
my furlough our band are giting along
tolerable well altho we dont have
a chance to practive for nursing the
sick and wondid Mr Dear you must
right to me how Calvin is giting along
also L Inabinet some of you must right
to Calvin and let him no [w]here we are
as I promised him to doe so, but my
chance is bad to right my Dear I close
right soon and often give my love to the
famely perticula to my little ones reserve
the best portion for yourself May gods
choisest blessings blessing abiad with
you all and protect you from all
harm and permit us all to meet again
when wars shal be no more your affectionate
Housband till Death John J. Jefcoat
[added at top of page]
My Dear you must Excuse this badly riten
letter as it is don on my nee seting on the ground