Head Quarters    16th Mich
Behind Breast Works near Petersburg
	      July 12th   /64
Dear Friends
	         I received your
Kind and Most welcom letter
came to hand three days ago
but I did not feel able to write
[crossed out] [did not] untill this morning I
thought that I would pluck up
courage and try and scribble a
few lines to let you know that
I am still alive yet and where I
I am, my health was first rate
from the time that I joined
My Reg on the 23d of Feb untill
the last of May we was then in 
the visinity of Coal Arbor on the
Chickahominy I was taken with
the Diareah and it has stuck
to me every since I did not half 

to give up doing duty. untill the 1st day
of the month although I had got
quite weak it is not here as it is
there is any one is A little sick they
are given up work when they are
A mind to they half to Keep
going as long as they can Oh, how
glad I will be when this awfull
war comes to A close so that us
poor boys can come home and
enjoy ourselves once more I hope
that I shall be abale to get home
this winter so that I can come down
and see you in your new house
I think that we Could have A grand
old visit but I cant see much signs
of the war closing It dont seem as though
it should last A greate while longer
the way the fighting is going on this
summer this is the biggest Campain of
the war by A good deal the Army has
lost verry heavy I have at last
seen the elaphant I have seen all

that I want to for it is an awfull
thing to stand and see men shot
down by your side although I stood
it better than I thought that I
should I was in all the battles from
the time that we crossed the Rapidan
on the 5th of may untill now and I
have come out with A whole hide
I havave had some very narrow
escapes both with minny balls
and Shells I dont like their musik
much. I had to give up on the 1st
day of this and come back to the
rear I am stopping with A man
that that is Cooking for one of the
Officers we are about A half A mile
from the Reg, I think if I dont get
any better before long they will 
send me off to the Hospital if I
should get to Washington or Philadelphia
I would try and make out the rest
of the summer I am poorer now
I think that I ever was if I get much
poorer I shant make more than
half A shadow if I come home this
winter I will come out and see you
or write so that you can come out
and see me. I got A letter from home
day before yesterday they was all well.
it is verry warm weather here
and has been for A month and A
half we have not had rain enough
to lay the dust since the middle
of May crops is verry poor here
there is not much raised but
oats and corn and potates you
must write as often as you can
and I will do the same My 
Respects to you your Mother 
and the rest of the family
this from your friend as ever
		 Truly J.W. Craw

	Com. I 16th Mich
	Vet. Vol Infantry
		Washington D.C.