Petersburg Va September 21 1864

 

Dear Sister Harriet

I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know that I got your letter you wrote me the 25^th last month I got it the 31 first of the month I was very glad to hear from you and to hear you are as well as you are my health is good as ever I am near enough to Petersburg so that I can see 5 steep [?] our pickets and the rebs ant more than 40 rods apart in some places from one another our men exchange papers with them and exchange Copper for to [?] night / the rebs and our folks exchanged about 12 papers with one another and within 2 hours one another were firing to one another I never see such fortifications as they is hear on our side and the rebs to their forts are within 200 rods in one another I think it would be very hard to take away from the rebs they dont fire at ous only at [?] I got the papers you sent me and the pocket book the wallet was all together too big I want you to tell me whether you got the letter I sent that 6 dollars in I think I must be drawing to a close I send my best / respects to all of you my things came yesterday [?] were spoilt but not the cheese and the cans of milk I was sorry but I could not help it I tell you I want you to answer as soon as you get this will you this from your brother

            Sylvester H Stevens

SOURCES