Fort rice
Near Petersburg virginia
November 1 1864
[1]

Dear Sister
I take the pleasure to write to you
lines to inform you of my helth wich is
verry good all but a bad Cold and I
hope these few lines will find you all
well I received your two letters the 30 and 31
and them pictures and was very glad to see
them and here from home but was sorrow
I see the Glass brook out of Ellas picture
it was all stove to peaces I got the tobacco
and stamps that you sent me all safe
but you never sent what it cost a plug
down there what I by here I have to pay 1.50
a pound and poor stuff at that and if
you can get it any cheeper down there
[page 2]
you may send me a nother plug
for I shall be out befour I get it about
them postage stamps that Joseph he said in his
letter that it was forty five stamps that
he sent but I did not get only fifteen stamp
forty five cents worth that is all right
I come off from 1 picket last night
and when I got in I had a letter the one
that Ellas picture was in I open it and the
glass was all stove to peaces but it did
not scar the face non to speak of
the nigh that I we got back from the
battle field I got four letters one from
Westley one from George henry one William
Pray well Olive the 28 day of Oct I was on
the battle field where the shot an shell
was a flying as thick as hail stones it was
a tuff one for one day I tell you
we lost pretty heavy I dont know how
meny yet but we took a S slat of
prisoners I see in one squad the next
day 800 hundred and in a nother there
[page 3]
was 300 hundred besides other
that I did not see they said in
all there was 1800 that was taken
that day the Rebels took two peaces of our
Cannon but they had to Give them up
a gain and that quick to the Ground
was covered with dead and wounded there
in that plaice the Rebels got all most
round us at one time but we found
our way out a gain by fighting like the
divel we are now in a fort front of
petersburg but I dont know how long
we shall stay here I want you when
you write to send two or three steel pens
fine one if you pleas tell the boys
that I will try and answer therr
letters as soon as I can give my love to
and best respect to all I know and tell
Uncle William to keep up good Courage
and I will Close by bidding you good
by / James F / to / Jenne O /
/ Goodwin / to / Goodwin /
[page 4]
November the 3 [186?]
I gest recived a letter
from Joseph but I am on Cap
of the Gard to day and it raing
here a gain to day it makes to and
nigh that it has rained
write write soon

Give my love to all I know and write soon [2]
You Get this and not fail