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This letter came to Coffey Cousins as a copy of a typed document. It has minimal punctuation; misspelled words have not been corrected. Typed across the bottom of the document was this note: "(This-letter was recently found in an old Bible belonging to Frances Caroline (1845-1922) and David J. Farthing (1847-1918). She was the daughter of McCaleb Coffey (1803-1881)"

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PETERSBURG Aug 17th 1862




Dear Father and Mother




I take my seat this morning to tell you the sad and awful news.

James F Coffey is dead and berried., he was taken sick I
dont think he has been very well for some time but he did not
complain any until Wednesday morning he got up in the morning
complaining of his throat being sore he went to the doctor that
morning and was excused from duty his throat commensed swelling
and next morning he was sent to the hospital about 10 or 11
oclock it was Thursday when he was sent to the hospital. On
Friday evning Henry went up to see him he was still getting
worse but was able to go about Then he gave Henry his money
that day and told Henry he wanted Henry or myself to come
back next day. So I went up early next morning and was very
mutch supprised to find him dead I went in the room where he
was laid out and looked at him he looked very natureal I left
then..and came back to camp to see if there was any chance of
sending him home the Captain wrote out a furlough for some of
us to come with him he took the furlough to the General he
would not sign it So the prospect of getting him home was a
failure As soon as I came from Petersburg we sent Harrison
Coffey to Petersburg to try to get a metallic coffin to put
him in which he would of kept sound for years and could of
been took home at any time We sent $100.00 to pay for the coffin
but there was none to be found so Harrison returned then we
came to the conclusion that there was no chance to get him
home so we come to the conclusion to let him be buried in a
government coffin which was dressed and painted he was buried
accordin to the military dissplin Henry Harrison William
George Morgan George Powell John Weaver Joshua Curtis Simeon
Philyaw George Sherill went to the burrying I did not feel able
to go an I was just getting over the mumphs and had just walked
to Petersburg and back he died at 11 oclook Friday night the
nurse saw he died in his right mind and without a struggle the
nurse said that he died the easiest of any person he ever saw
he got so he could not talk ( ? ) minutes before he died
without saying anything about dying the whole time of his
sickness We have gotten his clothes in our tent I wish they
were at home Henry has got what money he had he had $66.85
which we will send home the first safe chance I would like
for father to come and see us if he has the chcnce and get
his things He was buried 1 1/2 miles of Petersburg Henry said
that it is the largest grave yard he ever saw The boys said
that James looked the most natural of any corps they ever saw
Poor fellow I hope he is in a better world than this where
There is no Battles to be fought and where there is no more
sickness he has been a very sivel boy since he came to the army
He seemed to be liked by all who new him he has never made any fuss
or quarl since he come into the army james has red his testement
almost daily and with delight apperantly and died with it in his
pocket when we would leave camp to go out on any duty he would carry
his book in his pocket This is the first letter that I ever have
written with my eyes fill with tears I have never before had any thing
to hurt me so but it is a debt which we all have to pay I would
have writen yesterday evening but you will get the letter as soon
as if I had wrote yesterday. When he gave Henry his money he told
him that he was afrade somebody would steal it I regret very much
that we was not with him when he died Father Mother do not think
hard of us for anything for which we have done for (W ? )
the best we could do I suppose you are very well aware of what tight
rules we are under and cannot do as we would wish to do We would
like very well to see you all but the only chance for you to come
see us I wrote to you on Friday but I suppose you will get this
letter nearly as soon as you will get this write to me on the receipt
of this letter so I may know that you have got this letter So no
more-at present

From your affectionate Son


W C Coffey

and E C Coffey


P S I received a letter from Charlie friday he was well We are both
as well as could be expected

James told Henry on friday evening that his nurs was very good to him
Father please come and see us and get Jameses things if you can
possible spare the time [ ? ] injure yourself Reed this letter
to all his relatives and friends Money could not of stoped me from
sending him home if I could of had the opportunity he was buried
in his gray pants which he brought from home and white drawers and
the worsted Shirt which he brought from home and socks Henry got a
white Hankerchief and tied round his jaws he was wraped in a blanket
also