Saltketcher River Jan 24th 1865 [1]
Dear Wife
With Extream pleasure
I avail myself of the opportunity
of writing you a few brief lines
Which leaves myself and Brothers
quite well hoping this may reach
you and all in the injoyment of
good helth My Dear I have
nothing of interest to write you
at presant we have had a greate
=eal of rain for the last week
and the river is verry high and
still rising wee have had to
moove out of the swamp on
main land tho the weather has
bin warm and pleasent we have no
winter heare attall comparitively
speaking to what we have in
Verginia. it feels like we have
mooved to a climate where tha
have no winter to what it is in
Verginia the change has mad a grate
difference in our appetite we doe not
git hongry half so much as wee did in
Verginia
[page 2]
we have plenty to Eate at present
My Dear I have with pleasure
Received the little note you sent
me by Henry also the gloves and socks
I was much gratifyed to Read a line
from you as I had not Received a line
from you in one Month My Dear
Evry thing is quiet in front sience the
heavy rains it is too wet for Eney active
opperations at this place at the preasant
My Dear we have orders to moove to day
it is thought we will moove in a
Westerly direction which is up this
River but we no not where we will
stop therefore you must not write
to me until you hear from me again
for I would not git your letters the
mail as verry uncertain here Eney
now so you need not write untill
you hear from me then I will writ you
how to direct your letters that I my
git them accept my Best wishes for
yourself and little childrin I Remain
as Ever your affectionate John J. Jefcoat
Mrs. R E. Jefcoat