William Elisha Stoker to Elizabeth E. Stoker, August 26, 1863

Camp Texas La. August the 26th. A.D. 1863

Dear beloved and affectionate Wife it is with the greattes of pleasure that I once more seat my self to drop you a few lines as a token of rememberance of you. I cant get a letter from you but that dus not keep me from writeting to you. I promiseed you when I was at home that I would write to you and I expect to do it as long as I hav helth and can get paper. I get out of hart sometimes and think that I want write untill I get a letter from you but then I think that you write and I cant get your letters and I augh not to stop because I cant get yours. Thees few lines leavs me well and I hope when they come to hand they may find you and familey well. Ive no nuse that would interest you. Every thing is dull about camps and there is more long facees hear than you ever saw. The men is all tierd and woar out. They want to come home and they cant get off. It is hard but we hav to bare it. Henry Collens has got a furlow and will start home in the morning. I wish I could come with him but I had bout as well wish something els. The last letter that I wrote to you I thaught that I was going to send it by Devalson Robertson but just as I got it dun Sid come over and told me that he had a furlow. I was proud that he was going home but I cant tell you how bad I wantted to come with him. I was so eager to come. I took the trimbles and I couldent write any more after he come. I told him that he could tell you more than I could write in a week. I received a letter from sister Jane yestedey eavning. It gave me a great deal of satisfaction. She said you and Mother went down to Jefferson about three weeks before she wrote which was the 12th of August and you went by and staid all night. Her and she went home with you and when she got to Mothers she found Priscilla there. She said she kissed her too or three times and then repeatted it over for me. She said she was as pretty as ever and she was a smart child. She said she ast her where hur par was. She said he was gone to the ware. Sister Jane said you told her that Priscilla had forgot me. It makes me feel verry sorry about it but I cant help it. I hope I will see you both before a great while. She said your crop looked verry well what she seen of it. I was glad to hea that it was promiseing. I forgot tell Sid to eat a hole fride chicken and a plate of buiscuit for me and they well buttered with a gallon of good milk. When you see him you must tell him. There is a meetting going on in our brigade. They cant hold meetting onley every nights and Sundays. The officers cant take time to let them hold meetting every day for drilling the nen. Them that gos pays good attention and it is having great affect. There is from 40 to 50 mourners over all and there was sever professed and given there experience and has ben babliseed. Ive heard that there has ben some great revivals back there. I want to hear from you. I hope you hav attended them regular and has made it proffitable to yourr ever dyeing sole. I hope you hav found Jesus who taketh away the sin of the world. I wish I could of ben there to attended them with you. I think I could of enjoyed myself much better than I can hear. I hope the good peopple did not forget to cast up a few pertitions in behalf of us wicked soldiers. Betty Sid said that he thaught he would come back in a waggon. If he dus send me too soots of close and too or thre pare of socks. I can get shoes here cheapper than you can there. I am the worst down looking fellow I reckon you ever saw. It looks like every boddy can get to go home but me. I reckon it is because I want to come worse than any boddy els. Give my best respects to all inquireing friends and all of our cnnection. Tell me when you write what big sis done when she saw Sid. Nothing more but I remain your affectionate husband untill deth. William E. Stoker To Mrs. Elizabeth E. Stoker