[1] Near Weldon R.R. Sept 11, 1864 [2]

Dear Brother
I think I will write you a few
lines to tell you what I have
been doing the last weeak. I wrote
home last Sunday, & a fornight
ago I wrote two letters home
and sent Abby a jack knife that
I found on the battle field near
Weldon R. R. I have not
received any letter from home
for this weeak and I want one
veary much. I thought I should
get one this morning but did
not. last Monday our Regt all
went on fatague we went
two Miles to the rear and
threw up brest works
thare was quite an Armey
[page 2]
of Soldiers hard at work build-
ing brest works with ax and spad
and pickax. we worked from
six o clock in the morn
till eight o clock at night
and then went back to Camp
and got some Supper of fresh
fride beef hard tack & coffee
and then went to bed & slep
till morning. Tuesday
we was on guard duty
at the brestworks, Wednesday
we packed up & slung
knapsacks and Marched three
miles to the rear and then
stacked arms and unslung knapsacks
and then took an ax & went
to felling trees we work
all day and then marched
back to withen half a mile
of whare we was encamped
in the morning and in the
[page 3]
rear of it in a fine grove
whare we laid down
to rest for the night.
Wednesday morn just as we
was eating breckfast the
Rebels Charged on the pickets
with a yel in our front
& the next moment we
was all at the brestworks
reddy for them, but they knew
better then to come any further
then the picket line, they took
10 of the picket boys prisoners.
Thursday we pitched our
tents & cleared up our ground
& have been encamped and resting
since then. yesterday we drew
cloathing I drew a pa of Shoes
and one pa of footing & one pa of drawers.
to day is Sunday and a beautiful
day it is, it is a veary still
day for the Armey, I write or
lay down on my bunk or in
[page 4]
the shade of a tree as
lazy as you please.
I aught to write to Uncle
folks but have not got
any stamps and so must
waite till I get some from
home. how much do you
haft to pay on my letters
that have not got any stamp
on. I am well and tuff & hope
this will find you the same.
I have not had a cold since
I joined the Regt. tell me how
all the folks are and & baby
and Neighbours and so and, send me
stamps Salratus Cream tarter
jinger, &two dollars in the
next letter, I will send you
a peice of our state flag in
this letter it is torne all to
rags by rebel bulets. we lost
our N.S. flag in the fort the
July 30 I will send a letter that
I found, in this. so goodby from your

[added in the upper margin upside down on page 2]
Gen Grant is fortifying his
rear and all around. the cars
run to hear from Cittypoint. [3]
[4]I should like some bread and milk.
[5] loveing brother Frank Cox to Ed A. Cox