January, the 21, 1865
Saltchatchie River 5 miles this side of Pocatalico
Dear Wife
I seat my Self this morning to drop you a fu lines to let you here from R.C.C. once more I am in tolerable good health except cold I have Bin Blest in that respect So far but I have bin in mud and water to my nees on the River Banks on piquet without fier for 24 houres at time our line of batel is on one Side of the River and the Yanks on the other we are fiting Sum every day
piquet fighting we had a fite yesterday with hour one men throw a mistake kiled and wonded a good many a George Begal and ours the case of it was liquer the offerse was Drunk wee are in a woful condition when the Weeked Reighn the lan_ mosn I dont think this confed can prosper under such conditions I woldent give a chaw of to Baco for this confdrose I no if I was at home I wodd sta there I dont see no use in fiting any longer, I was always a posed to this war it was brot on by hot headed fools and it never prospe no no it cant Well Mag Direct your leters to Charleston I hant got a leter Since the 6 of De this is the last of my paper and envelopes we will Stay here til Sherman runs us away or capers us we keep fiting and falling back,, my clothe and Rashens is Short I Dont get half a nuf to eat Well Mag Do the Best you can I want you to Send me Sum mony Sum times I can by Sumthing to eat, Mag if you cold rent a good pece of ground I wold Do it you hant land a nuf for 2 plows or clear Sum more if you cold clere that pece betwixt the two felds where the spring is do it Run the fence from the bars to the corner of