Petersburg, Va
August 9 th 1864
My Dear Mother
We killed 400 Negros the Negros fough
Well. We lost ten men from our
Company. Wounded, and one of them
has died Since from his
Wound, his name is Abram. R.
Peal. Mother I could Walk
from our house to Joel on dead
Negros and yankees, times is all
quiet here now, But I cant tell
how long they Will remaine so, Mother
I am looking for a letter from you
evry day, Mother I think that I
Shall git some money on the 14
of this Month, and I Will send you
some Giv my lov to of my inquing
friends. I Will Write again in a
few days. Nothing more at present
only I Remaine your affectionate
Son untill Death }
Edgar Smithwick }
[page 2]
Petersburg, Va
august 11 the 1864
Dear Mother
I take the opportunity
of Writing you a few lines to in-
form you that I am Well at present.
Hopeing thies few lines may reach
and fined you enjoyin the Best of
helth, Mother I Would hav Writen you
Before now But I hav Bin weating for
Joeph Gibson to come Back, Sergt.
Carey got Back to day, and Joe did
not come. So I thought that I Would
Write you a few lines to let you know
that I was well. Mother if you git
this letter Before Joe leaves I Want
you to try and Send mee one
peck of good apples if you can git
them in the Islands Mother We
had a hard fight on the 30 th of July
the yankees Blowed upt our Brest
Work. We lost from 500 to 800 hunard
men in killd Wounded and prisnors
the yankees Say that they lost 5000
men, But I cant think that there
was over 4000. yankess killed
Wounded and taken }