Petersburg, Va
Augt 19 the 1864
Dear Mother,
I Received your
kind letter a few days a
go and Would hav Writen
to you Before now But the
yankees hav Bin in perse
ertion of the Weldon Rail Road
for the last ten days So that
the mail did not pass. But
the mail go now Buy the
Way of Daniel. Mother I
think that We will hav
the yankees off of the
Weldon Road in a few days,
We had a hard fight with
them on the Weldon Road
on the 18. We whipped them
Bad. We tuck 3000 prisoners.
on the 20 We had another
fight at the same place
[page 2]
and we lost 200 men killd
Wounded and prisoners, on the
26 We had another fight the
Same place on the Weldon
Road. We whipped them
again. We tuck 2000 pris
oners. and 9 peices of
Artilary. times is all
quiet in front of Petersburg
and at present except Some
Shelling. Mother times is
veary hard here now,
We are only fareing com-
mon for Something to Eate.
Mother We hav not got
our pay yet but I think
that we Shall git it this
Week. Mother I would Bee
glad to go home and See
you. But I cant tell
when I shall git the
[page 3]
opportunity of coming home.
Mother if you git this
letter Befor Joe leaves I
Want you to send me some
peper, and Some Sage if
you please. Mother I am going
to try and Send you a nice
oil cloth to Ware over
dress this Winter Mother
thies few lines leaves me
in good helth at present.
and I hope that thies few
lines may reach and fined
you enjoying the Best of
helth. giv my lov to
Cousin Elly and family
also Joe and his family
giv my respects to Anie
Jones. Mother I hope
that this Camp paine will
End in the corse of one.
[page 4]
more Month. Mother I
hope that you are giting
a long finlley I Hope
that your Crope is fine
I hope that the Lord will
Bee with you as he has
Bin with mee in the
time of Battle. I must
close for the Want of
to Write. I Will Write again
in a few days you must
as a sone as you Git this
letter and let mee here
from you often: may
the Lord Bless and pro-
tect you, Nothing more
at present. only I Remiane
your affetionate Son
untill Death
Edgar Smithwick