Peters Burg July 2nd 1864
Dear and Affectionate Wife With
pleasure I again seat myself to
address you a few lines Which leaves
in tolerable well tho much fateiged
from hard Marching we have to be
on the March Evry day or two our of
the city 8 or ten miles and then back
again and the weather is Excessively
hot and dry the Enemy have bin Making
Raids on the Railroad between this
and Weldon and have cut off all
comunication between heare and
South Carolina we have not got Eney
Mail from home sience the 17th of June
I have not got but one letter from you
sience I came to Verginia that was dated
the 10 of June and I dont supose you
git the letters I right you and dont no
whether you will git this or not but
I will right and try to git it to you if
I can as I no you all would like to hear from
us
[page 2]
Joel is also tolerable well only like
myself Woued down from hard Marching
Henry has bin unwell for some time
from fateige and yesturday he taken
lite feever and was sent to the
infurmy hospital to recruet up
I heard from him this Morning he is
rite pirt to day [we?] band have quit
the hospitel we have bin ordered to
stay with the Regt until tha [s?]ould
have and ingagement we are now
staying between the city and the
line the shell are constant flying over
our heads we had another man woundid
last night Sam Mack in the leg
Wesley Tindell was wounded some ten
days ago on the left knee cap but did
not injur the bone last night he
died from it. the Most of our woundid
are doing badly tha have taken
oricpilous and that causes their [1]
wounds to be very dangerous indeed
[page 3]
My Dear Rachael it is imposable
for me to give you one half of the news
out heare you can git much more by
reading the papers and you can scirsly
give an Idia of the hardships and
suffering which we have to under
go in this troublesome war I consider
it almost worse than death and
when shall it have an End a great
Meney fulley believe that this years
campain will cirtainly End the war
but for my part I see no prospect
of it what Ever I supose it will
only End when nearly Evry body is
killed and no one to fight them
maby it will End and then what
pleasure will those that remain
see, it is given up by all the old
troops out here that this has bin
the hardist fighting of the war sien
ce the 2nd of May last it has bin
one continued fight
[page 4]
My Dear I hope this may Reach
you and all well and doing well
I feel that could I be their it
would cirtainly be a feast of pleasure
to me but I scirsly feel that I
shal Ever be able to again enjoy the
Meney Rich pleasures of a peaceble
life at home sweet home I wish those
that started this war had it to fight
Dear Rachael I cant rite you but little
to what I could tell you if I could see
you but alass seeing times is our with us
I fear for Ever the meney dangers through
which I have to Pass god is the only help
[???] in him I put my trust Give my
love to my little ones also the family
Reserve a bountifull portion for yourself
May god vless you as a family and save
you from all harm and when this life shall
pass away may we all Meet in heven to part
no more this is my dayle pray will you help me to
pray I remain as Ever your affectionate
Housban till Death John J. Jefcoat