Petersburg July 10th 1864
Dear Rachael
With pleasure I seat my
self to return unto you a few lines
which leaves me well in body altho I
have bin quite unwell for the last 4 or 5
days with a very bad coal. but I am Much
better of that now. I hope this May reach
you all in the best of helth and doing well
My Dear I am unable to give you Eney
light as it regards the results of affairs around
petersburg affairs still remain unchanged
the Enemy are still shelling the city More or
Less but have accoplished nothing yet it
is thought tha are withdrawing their forces
from this place but we dont no whether the
report is true or not I hope it may be true
for I am tired of so much fighting but if
Grant leaves heare we will have to and if
such a thing should occur you need not
be suprised of hearing of us pass
=ing through South Carolina to help Johns
=on at atlanta Georgia from the account
I see in the paper today it is likely to go
up unless Genl Johnson can git help from
[page2]
some quarter or other but you no more about
affairs in Georgia than I doe for you are Much
nearer there then I am and can see the papers
I am very sorry to here of the yankes drawi
=ng in so near South Carolina supos tha
should Make a rade through there as tha
have don here what would be the consequence
I never want to here of such a thing as that
occuring in South Carolina I dont see how I could
posable remain here should such a thing
take place I hope such may never be the
case with you. My Dear I would be glad
to here from you More frequent than I doe
I have not red a line from you sience the
17 ult I dont see why the Mail should
not go now the railrodes are repaired now
and the cars are runing through from
here to Weldon also to Danvill it looks like the
Mail could go and come Either way but I dont
no whether it do or not I no this Much I havent
got Eney letter in a long time and it may be the
case with you I have written you severl letters
that I heare nothing of one on the 12 one on the
22nd ult and one the 2 and 6th inst I hope tha have
Reached you long before this time
[page 3]
My Dear I trust this is not caused by Eney
Neglect of you or that you feel a coldness towar
ds me becaus I have bin taken a distance
of 5 Hundred miles from you out of the
State I trust you have a better regard for
me than that let me go whare I May My
Affections will Ever [woe?] warm towards the
the Idel of My hart Oh for this crue war to End
that we may have the opportunity of appreciat
=ing the Value of a life in pease My Dear the
close of this year must cirtainly make a great
change in this war one way or the other to
those that live to see the year End I feel
like I wish to have the power to hasen the time
an to no who is Elected for the next president
of the United States that wil have Much
to doe with the Ending of the war tha are
said to be Much confusion [????] in the
North concerning the Election and I hope
it may continue to increece Evry day untill
tha git to fighting themselfs My Dear tell
Sister Ann that I saw George a few days ago and
that he is all right and looks quite harty
he ses he will git a furlough as soon as the
campaign is Ended and furloughs are given
[page 4]
My Dear you need not send my pistol by
Calvin I have no use for it I have writen this
alredy but I dont no if you have got the letters
My Dear we still have very dry hot wether we
havent had Eney rain sience we came out here
and a long time before the Earth is dry as ashes
and crops is burning up. write me how you are
faring for rain at home and how the prospects
of a crop looks and how the wheet crops turned
out and write me all that occurs with you
My Dear our band are inproving considerable
we have imployed a teacher from the 16 Regt
from Mississippi he is a very good Musician
but Makes us practive very hard he keeps us at it
nearly all day he has kept us verry buisey for the
last 5 days we are prefectly wiling to use Evry
Effort to keep up the band it is a favourable
position heare our teachers name is Hartwell
My Dear I must bring my letter to a close you will
accept my undying love and affectionate regards
for yourself and children tell sisey houdy for pah
and take good care of herself and be pirty girl
kiss the baby for me my love and Respt to all the
family May god be with you all to bless and to [???]
I Remain as Ever your Devoted Housband til death
Mrs R.E. Jefcoat John J. Jefcoat