Petersburg Virginia Sept 11th 1864 [1]
Dear Sister
I take the pleasure to let you
that I am pretty well now and hope
these few lines will find you all
well we have a fine time here I tell
you plenty of nois there hant ben
a Day sence I have been here but the shells
has ben a flying all around . thay
have a hot time of it [sonce?] [????]
we was out to work on the [bust?]
works to day and about noon tim
the [?] Reb open fire on us and the
shell flew like [t???] for a Spell but
did not happen to hit any one
the Rebels in some placeis is so
near that I Could send a stone to them
and other placeis thay are further off
but none of them [???] is [????] two
hundred years of not the picket
our lines is th twent [2]
[page 2]
Sept the 11 1864
Last night a bout twelve o clock
our folke Charge the Rell [???]
Rebel pickets and took 150
of the and we have ben fighting
ever sence and one come in
the balls flys like haill untill
12 O clock to day it is pretty quiat
now but we expect it again to
night we have not lost a great many
yet there was four or five killed
and a few wounded
I sent a letter to you a week a go but
not had any yet I dont know
wether you got it or not I hav
I hope that you did for I should
to here from you very much
and how is the draft a going
being on down there have thay
drafted any of our boys or not
I hope thay went any way
for thay are having a hot tim
[page 3]
out here and will for a spell
to Come I expect
there has ben an order isued that
any one Can Go in the navy if
thay want to and if there is any
Chance I shall go if I Can
there will be hard fighting there
I expect but not so much marching
and if I Go it will be with in
a week or two I dont know wether I can
get in or not but I hope I Can
has Dr tuttle ever Got that furlough
yet or not if he hant I want
him to try and get it is [anu?]
to work in the mmill now or not
is it t she at [???] home a having
give my love to all I know
as I Cant think of any more
I will Close by biding you
Good by I dont know as you
can find this out it is gest
like old newppes to write on
[page 4]
and the last I have

write as soon
as you Get this
and not fail
this is from James
F . Goodwin
to Olive J. Goodwin