My Dear Wife Petersburg VA [no date, but late summer/early fall 1863]
I reach this place last night & now
embrace this opportunity of writing you a few lins
to inform you of our situation we are hear with out
any thing much to eat I had nothing for breakfast
this morning but bread. The reste of our men have left
this place so I exspect to remain hear untill they
return but I cant say when that will be so I
cannot tell you know what I can do untill they
return but I am inhopes I can soon write you somthing
more satisfactory than this. I understand that our
Readgement is now engaged in a fight down below
heare so I am i[n] hopes it will not be long before
they will return. The most of our boys are without
money and some of them are without shoes. The boys
tells me that Landy Harass [1] did run a way from heare
Dump I want you if you pleas to have that flanel
wove as soon as you can & mak me some shirts if you
can spare any of it I could get some heare by paying
a big price for them. you must write to me as soon
as you get this & lett me know how you all are
tell Buck he must do all he can for you all
we cant draw any money untill the Readgement
returns Dump you must not think two much about
me take care of Seaf & trust in the lord tell Sister
Ann & Jane they must pray for me I must come
to a clos pleas write me soon & tell me all news
if I cant get of soon I will send you my Degrouetype
Give my love to all the family
I remain as ever your affectionate husband
J A Patton