John McCoy, letter, to Martha McCoy, 1864 October 3

affair but from your version of the transaction he and [illegible][guess (SYA): Duffin] seems to be guilty at all events if ^the^ victim of their thirst for Greenbacks should be killed we may with justice consider them accessory in the crime of murder — however we will let the matter rest with their own conscience —

I am glad Sister [illegible][guess (SYA): N.A.] is will I regret her [illegible][guess (SYA): irreparable] loss Alicks goodness to her through life and the ample proviss -ion he made for her in preparing for his sad fate shows that his love was le real she has a right to reverence his name until she draws her last breath. I wrote you a letter on ^the 11th^ ult which you will received ere this at that time I was sick as I am now although the most of the time on duty I may say I am a living skeleton reduced by medicine and no app -etite for any kind of food. I am

resigned to fate whatever it may be I would as soon go to Richmond as stay here but the prospects are we will stay here for a while as the men is not fit to be moved at present. I regret to state that things looks very gloomy here. in spite of all the vigilence of the authorities to suppress it the facts are the yellow fever (yellow jack) is raging in the city it has not broke out in our camp yet although two men died very suddently in our guard house the night before last the Doctor pronounced it the cause of death Bilious fiver from eating to much pork — I doubt - soldiers and citzens are carried off according to accounts at from 40 to 50 per day. to-day when [illegible: [guess (MKR): writting]] most all the Battery and garrison flags are at half mast Meredy can tell you what it means. the yellow fever is accompanied by the Black Vomit which carries their victim ^off^ in a few hours

from the first attack every thing is being done in to prevent disease an on a general order says no soldier is allowed to appear out of his [illegible: [guess (MKR): tent]] ^or quarters^ from sun set until sun rise with out his overcoat all Buttoned whiskey rations are issued night and morning to the men by orders of the Doctor - men are detailed every night to make camp fires all round the th camp and in the company streets at a proper distance the smoke from the Pitch Pine is considered good to keep away Bad air — I would have written sooner but I delayed on account of thinking we would be paid ere this. Gold is down to 200 - making the GreenBack 50c. so much for [illegible] Atlanta and our two hectares in the Shanandoah Valley the war is drawing fast to a close the Rebels must succumb under the power of our triumphant army, McClellan would be the choice of the soldiers - Albert you might write to me since your mother has no time