Dear Mother

     It has been sometime since you have heard from me by letter on account of my not having an opportunity of writing. on last sunday week our Div left Bellfield to come to this section to meet the enemy & every day to the present we have been moving from on place to another today were in camp quiet though we have no tents nor anything of the camp equipage wagons have gone for them today. The enemy advanced four corps on our lines but did not accomplish a great deal only advanced their picket line about two miles. our Regt has Just gotten last night of picket

and is camp on the white oak Road about 10 miles from Petersburg Nothing but Beales [i.e., Brig. Gen. Richard Lee Turberville Beale's] Brigade the Balance is at Bellfield It is thought that our Brig will not return any more to Bellfield Our loss and the enemys [illeg] was about the same in the last fight [i.e., Hatcher's Run, 5-7 February 1865] Gen Pegram [i.e., Brig. Gen. John Pegram, CSA] comg a division was Killed he had Just been married on only one month. The ninth Regt had one Killed and four wounded today is a rainy day & looks like we are going to have more isnt it hard to have to stay out here without any shelter. But I can stand as long as any other man I am sure our commanders seem to have some sympathy for us [illeg] they issued to us yesterday one half pint of whiskey. Now I [2 words illeg] home because I mention it you will not think I drank mine--no I did not I can tell you that is something I never intend to do. Have you succeeded in getting me a horse yet. I am going to try to get of to come home as soon as I can dont make a sacrifice of anything on my ac[illeg] Jerry & Thomas has gotten to camp also arnold [i.e., Pvt. Thomas J. Arnold, Co. I, 9th Virginia Cavalry] & Burchell they are lucky fellows Just in time for Daviss Proclamation to clear them. you will have to excuse bad writing as I write in a hurry & nothing to write on all of my things that I carried in my saddle Bags is at Bellfield including paper &c uncle John is down there I have not seen him since last sunday week all of [2 words illeg]

He was well when I left him I will close write again soon no chance of disbanding good Bye

John N. Peed

Febuary 18 -1865-