Letter, 19 July 1864, of J.T. Steele (Petersburg, Virginia), to J[ames] E[arle] Hagood (Pickens C[ourt] H[ouse], S.C.), composed during the early months of the Richmond–Petersburg Campaign, acknowledges receipt of Hagood’s letter of 12 July 1864 and notes that, while he would "take pleasure in assisting you in any way," it promised to be "the worst chance to hold an Election in camp that I ever saw." "The Men are in the trenches all the time," Steele writes, "& you cant straiten yourself without being pop[p]ed at by the Sharp Shooters." Others who might take an interest were absent due to sickness or away on cooking detail and working as teamsters. All in all, he reports, "it is hard to get men interested in Elections now."

Even though there had been no general engagements in a month, there was "heavy skirmishing along the lines all the time" and the regiment was continuing to suffer casualties every day. "The men are wore out but ready to meet any of Grants forces at any time." Steele looked for "some movements now soon" and notes that the morning newspaper reported "that Johnson has been superceded by Hood."

James T. Steele served as a private in Co. A, First South Carolina Infantry, also known as Orr’s Rifles. The Richmond-Petersburg Campaign (ca. 9 June 1864 to 25 March 1865) is also known as the Siege of Petersburg.