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Camp near Charles Town

Jefferson County August the 26th 1864

Dear Wife I seat my self this morning to let you know that I am wuell at present hoping that when those few lines comes to your hands they will find you injoying the same like blessings we are here is a few miles of the potomac River a watching the movemints of the yankys we have head several fights with them and all ways whipt them and run them of they are allways hanging round for some advantage of us there is a bout twenty five thousand of us here under general Early and suposed to be thirty three thousand and of the yankys we can whip them any day there has bin a great many lost on both sides the yankys her lost a geat many more than we have I would be glad that peace could be maid that I could return to you in peace a gain a grate many thinks that this will be the the last year of the war I would be truly thankful if it is the case they think that the Presadents election wil bring a bout peace if old Linkon is not a elected a gain the yankys prisners say this wil be the last year of the war I should like to see you and the children verry much there is no chance for a while I think we will get to come back to south western virginia to winter this winter if not before there is no chance to git of at this time without running of and that I dont want to do altho there is a grate many that has run of they wil be brought back if they can be caught and verry likeely punish for runing of our company has not got but six men up we have had two men kild and one wounded and the balance has run off and gone home I under stand that colonel Bowen is on his way to us with several men it likely that our company will increase before many days I would write oftner if I head the time we have had a grate eal of marching to da this sumers that we havnt the time only once and a while and paper is verry scarce stamps we cant git atall I would write to mother but you can tell hear what is going on it will ancer the same perpose I have not heard a word from home since I left a good many of the boys hes got letters I cant tell why it is that I cant git non if you start them I should be verry glad to heare from you and to now how you are giting a long I now you will have a hard time you must try to do the best you can I have not drawd any mony but seventy five dollars that the captain drawd for me last winter so I must bring my letter to a cose

L. D. Fletcher to Mary M. Fletcher