Petersburg Va July 27^th 1863

Dear Brother

                        I forget whether I have written to you since I rec^d your last or not but that makes no diference so you write often We are here yet and I dont know how long we will have to stay there has been a court of inquiry appointed but I cant tell when it will meet Gen^l Ransom is president and he is sick and I believe gone to the springs John Tuite and John Clark are in the hospital in this place sick I think they have Typhoid fever they are both very sick John Tuite wrote to uncle Smyth this morning I also wrote him a note and told him to let Johns mother know that he is sick. I do not want to alarm her or put her to unnecessary trouble but I think it would be better for him to be better attended to than he will be there. they have so many there and they have been at the place so long (that is the servants) that they are careless and negligent John will be sick a good while I think and if he is not well attended to might die. I was going to write to you to tell his father or mother of his situation but I will write to them in a few days if necessary.

 

Baker is in the hospital but he is not much sick he took dinner with us yesterday.

 

Shufler got a furlough at the hospital about a week ago I was afraid he was too weak to start but he thought he could go has he got home Munroe Kincaid is in the hospital at Richmond I have not heard from lately must write to him. /

 

I was very sorry to hear of Jacks death and I am sorry now that he did not join my company but I thought Jack wanted to go in infantry and he would stand a better chance for promotion I suppose it is certain he is killed.

 

I have not seen a list of killed and wounded from any Company from Burke and I dont know that I will Giles from Browns co is in the Hospital here he told me of four or five that was killed in his co the first day Jo Kincaid Esquire killed and Miltons wounded. John Michaux received a scratch I hear. let me know who was killed and wounded that I know.

 

            I met Miss Fanny Neal on the street a few days ago She has been here two or three weeks but I did not know it. I called to see her yesterday She expects to remain here two or three weeks and then go to Mecklenburg C^o in this state to visit some relatives living there.

 

            I recd a letter from sister a few days ago the first in a long time she did not know where I was. she thought as I did that we would be away from this place. Bennett has gone home on furlough I sent some cloth by him I did not need it here. I may need it after awhile but I have got as much now as I want to bothered with. There has been so much rain I expect the wheat and oats are damaged be careful about putting up damp wheat

 

            Write soon to your affectionate

                                    brother

                                                Alexander

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