Letter No 2

Petersburg Va July 22nd 1864
Dear Wife
With pleasure I seat myself in
respounding to yours of the 24 ult and 16th inst
Which has come to hadn to day it affords me
Much pleasure to hear from you perticular
after it being so long sience I heard from
you and to hear that you are all well and
I sincerly hope the blessing may continue
With you all during my long absence, this leaves
me quite well also my Brothers My Dear I have
no news of interest to write you from this
place the Enemy still remains heare in
shelling distance and continues to shell the
City at times furiously last knight the firing
was verry heavy also knight before last Severl
shell fell in our Regt killing one man and
wounding three the killed are a Mr. Wolf in
McMichaels comp and too woundid in the
same comp and one from comp F and K
our Regt are held in reserve about a mile from
the line inder the hills near petersburg tha
have not bin in the trenches in nearly a
Month I cant tell why it is tha are held
back unless it is to be in rediness to Reinfoce
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Enney point that Might be attacted
all of the Brigade are in Reserve together
altho tha are in nearly as much danger as if
tha ware in the trenches and would
be in Much mor if tha should have
to Reinforce the lines during and ingement [1]
Genl Grants death is conterdicted as was
reported we are unable to say what he inte
=nds doing with Pettersburg it is reported
by some that he is trying to ditch up to
our lines but I think he will find that
a hard Job tho he may try it as he has got so
close the city we cant tell what will be
his next Moove but I think the old fellow
is near[l]y played out inless he should git
reinforcements, My Dear I am sorry to hear
of the death of andrew Jefcoats only
child and also to hear he himself is dead
Which I hope is untrue tho it is not
imposable I am also sorry to hear that
Elizabeth Hooker has lost all her babes tho
we could not have Expectid them all to
live such occurances are very rair she will
be fortunate Even to recover herself dont you
think so too I hope she may Recover
[page 3]
My Dear We have had a fine rain heare at
last it came on the 11th inst the weather
is fine and pleasant the nights cool Enough
to sleep under a thick quilt the weather
hare in Summer are diferant to what it is
in South Carolina in the day the sun shines
verry hot but after the sun goes down it
becomes quite cool. our band is still geting
along prity well tho our leader Mr Armstrong
is quite sick at this time with feever the
last three or four days but he is better today
he is clear of feever this morning I hope he will
soon be well again My Dear I am much
pleased to hear you say that my sweet little
babes are injoying such good helth and growing
so finely I hope the blessing may continue
with you all and hopes you will try to
take the best care of them and yourself
you can and not alow her to fall off the box
and break her head you must be more cefull
My Dear after this direct your letters to
Petersburg Va instid of Richmond I will git
them too or th[r]ee days sooner by it the last
one you directed was all right only put it
Petersburg instid of Richmond it is rite tha
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should be directed to kershaws Brigade
Longstreets corps My Dear you spoke somet
=hing about sending me some clothing by
Calvin but I dont want you to send
me Eney I alredy have more than I want
to carry and if I should have to take a long
March I will have to throw some away
it is imposable for us to carry much with
and if should git out we can draw some
heare I think My Dear I must close for the
want of something to write I want you
to write me if you have got the box and
clothing I sent home from Mt pleasant
Give my good Wishes and best Respt to
uncle Allen I simpathise with him
Much in Bens looss I feel that his troubles
in his old days is verry greate I Share with
him in freif, tell Mother her compliments
are thanfully received and I trust the bless
=ings of god May continue with us all and be per
=mited to all meet again in peace to prais his
Name. the last I hear from G.R. Furtick he was
all right Give my love and Respt to all the
family My undying regards to yourself
and little children My god bless you your
affectionate Housband til death John J. Jefcoat