Memphis Tennessee
                                                                                                                                                    September 1, 1864

Mrs. White:

It is on account of the absence of your husband that I seat myself to write you a few lines to in form you ths cause of his absence. He was taken prisoner by the enemy the 24th of August as we was coming back to this place. He was taken about thrity-five miles from here. The cause that I take the priviledge of writing you is that he left his things with me and I have them yet, and I will try to keep them till he returnes, or till I am discharged if I can. He was well the morning that he was taken prisoner. He left to hunt watermellons I suppose, and was taken. Him and fore more men of the second bregade. There was several more of the third division taken the same day. Now I have given you all that I no about that. Now, there was a letter came for him yesterday, and we broke it to see how to fine your name so I counld write to you, it was dated August the 17th, 1864. Now I will close.

                                                                                                                                                Yours Respectively
 
                                                                                                                                                    G.W.D. Pettit
                                                                                                                                                    Elizabeth White.