Petersburg Virginia June the 20th 1862
my Dear wife I take the time to rite you
afew lines to inform you that I am well
hoping thos few lines may Come to hand
and find you all well I waunt to See
you and the children verry Bad But I
am two far off to Come to See you
though I havant forgot you Nor I Never
Shal my heart is fild with greif
and my eyes with tears to think that
we ar so far apart that I Cannot see
you and my Sweet little children But
I hope that the time is Not far off when
I Shal go home to stay with you and
my loveley Children I will rite to you again
when we git to where we ar going to
Stay I Sent you By John Mcknight
thirty five Dollars and I wish you to Do the
Best you Can till I Come hom if I
ever Do I wish you and my loveley
children well long to live and well
to Do you must Not rite to me tell I
rite to you again we got hear
this morning So I must Come to aclose
By telling you far well tell all the
children howda for me So good By my
loveley wife
E. B. Coggin in Care of
Capt John T Farginson Commanding