Written from Belfast, Maine. Opens "Cousin Grace Darling." Dated "Aug. Friday (Sometime after yours was recd I don't know the day of the month) A. D. 1865." This could be August 25, making the partially illegiable postmark August 28. He writes that he is afraid of certain threats and that he would fear to come into Rockland except at night and to the North End. He and Mollie [perhaps a sister?] both request her picture, and he has made her another ring. He asks if Grace could persuade her mother to let her visit her cousin Mary: "of course I shan't see you, you can just tell her that I will not look at you anyhow, cause why? because you dont think anything of Rebs and poor unlucky me, I come under that insignificant head just as sure as death." He writes of having to go to church all day on Sundays. He has not yet been to Winterport yet, Aunt Sina not having been ready to go and Uncle Kelly having sold one of the horses. He comments on the weather, saying that he has "not seen any warm weather since I left the Hot Bed of Secession, the beautiful city of Richmond." He reports that there is going to be a circus in Belfast the following Friday. Grace has provided updates on those he inquired about in his previous, to which he responds "So Cousin Mary is as smart as a parched pea and Florence is missing. Well I dont care neither one will write." He asks for longer and more frequent letters, and signs off "Everlasing Cousin, Robert Rankin of Belfast."

Envelope postmarked at Belfast, August 2[-?], second digit illegible. Addressed to "Miss Grace D. Nichols, Rockland, Maine."