Courthouse Va.

In line of battle Near Spotsylavania

May the 19^th 1864.

                       

My Dear loving Mother

Through the providence of God I am permited to write you a few lines to inform you that we are all still alive and well. Hope these lines will find you all enjoying of good health. Most of our company are well. there are three slight wounded in our company Liut. Johnson, V. A. Powell, L. B. Mc'Daniel, McDaniel in the left fore finger he is still with the Co. We have been wonderfully blessed so far, hope we all will still be blessed. I look to a higher authority than man, I look to God to take care of us all / I ask God to shield our defenceless heads with the shadow of his wing. We are looking to be engaged evry hour, both day & night, hear the pickets shooting often. We will have to go on picket to night our Co. My Dear mother I do not want you all to be uneasy about us all we are in the hands of God let his holy will be done, and not ours, he can shield us all on the field of battle as well as else where, I think he knows best what to do for us all. I know you all cannot help being uneasy about us but you will have to bear with the will of God our trials, and trust in the will of God. Cousin Rufus Bostick was wounded, Nick Bostick was killed dead. William Wadkins / Henry son lost his leg. John McNeely was killed dead. Carley Marshall was wounded. There was three killed in our Regt. I do not know in the Brigade killed and wounded. My Dear Mother let us all live awright what few days we live in this sinful world, so if we meet no more on earth that we may live happy together in heaven. O my God hear all of our prayers and save us all from that death that never dies. Let us all lift our souls up in prayer to God dayly and hourly for each other. I will have to close excuse bad writing and spelling as I have to write in hast. Give all the family and Eliza my love and receive the same for your self, brother John and Ed. joins / me in love to all.

 

Write soon all of you and all the news. We all will write evry chance we get.

 

I hope we all will be spared to meet again on earth, but if not on earth let us all meet in heaven where all is love. I still remain as be fore your true son untill death

                       

Yours truly, E. D. Cheatham

 

Good bye to all untill I hear from you all

 

Remember all the poor soldiers in prayer

           

Yours E. D. Cheatham

 

Tell R. Mc. Daniel Lawson is well except his finger also William Moxley is well

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