Petersburg, [1]
July 18 th 1864
My Dear Mother,
I Received your kind
Letter of the 30 of June, I Was
more the glad to here from
you, for I had not had a letter
from you in some time.
your kind letter Came
to hand and found me in
good helth. and I hope that
thies few lines may come
to hand and fined you
enjoying the Best of helth.
I hav had two light chills
Since I heard from you Before
But I never giv upt fro them
Mother I hav no news of
any imprtance to Write you
only We are in line of Battle
in front of Petersburg.
[page 2]
[page torn] in three hunard yards
of the yankees. our Pickets
and the yankees Pickets
talk With each outher of
Nights. The yankees
Wont charg on our Workes
We hav got Strong Works
and I think that We Shall
Wate for the yankees to com
on us, or Stay here untill
Sept. But it though that
the yankees are leaving
here now But I cant
tell, Mother We hav had 4
Men killed and 9 Wounded
and three missing, Makeing
in all 16 Men that We
Lost Since We left Ivor,
on the 4 day of May }
Mother I was glad to here
that your Crop Was fine
[page 3]
Mother the Weather has [2]
veary dry here, We hav not
had any Raine here in
50 days. It looks more
like Raine to day then it
has since the 15 of May.
Mother We hav not Recvd
any Pay yet. they will
Pay us two Months
Wagers this Week, But
I cant tell how I Shall
Send you any for I Shall
Bee afraid to send it a letter
But I Will try and Send
you Some, Mother I am
Sorry that I cant draw
no more. Money But
I will try and Send you
50 dollars. Mother Giv my
Lov to Cousin Till and
the children
[page 4]
[3] Cousin Elly and
here family. also to Henry
and his children also to
Joel. Mother I Want you
to Write me Weather the
Mail go to Columbia
or not. Nothing more
at Present. only I
Remaine your affet,
Son untill Death }

Edgar Smithwick