In late May 1863, private William E. Stoker of the 18th Texas Volunteer Infantry, dressed in a wool grey uniform, was tired of war and wished the “confederacy was toar all to smash and turned bottom up.” Stoker must have been tired after a recent fight he mentioned that took place at Alexdandria, Louisiana and was looking forward to a fight against Federal troops. Although not sure when he would see his wife again, Stoker remained, to his wife Betty, her “affectionate husband untill death.” (By David Gillespie)
Record Data
Source citation
William Elisha Stoker to Elizabeth E. Stoker, May 22, 1863, William E. Stoker Papers, National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg, PA.
Recipient (to)
Stoker, Elizabeth E.
Transcriber
Andrew Hyland, Dickinson College
Transcription date
04/09/2009
Transcription
The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.
Camp near Nocitush Louisiana May the 22nd 1863
Dear wife being at lesure this eavening I set down on the ground to pen you a few lines as a token of rememberance of you to let you know that I am well at the presant and I hope when thees few lines comes to hand they may find you and familey enjoying the same blessing. Ive no nuse to write that would interest you. We hav got back to redriver [Red River] once more. We got hear yestedey eavning but we are not stationed yet. I think we will start to Alexander [Alexandria] in the morning. I am getting verry tired of marching. We hav ben on the march nearley a month on a force march at that. We march from 16 to 22 miles a day and toat 25 or 30 pounds when we start to a place. We go every where els before we get there. We hav travailed fare enough since we left Monrow [Monroe] to of ben to Alexander. The feds we learn has gon back down the river. I dont know we will land we will take a boat in the morning and go down the river. All of Walkers division is hear and near hear I think from the movement of every thing. We will hav a fight down the river. There has ben a little fight at alexander I reckon you hav heard of it before now. The feds cleaned us up but our forercees wasent nothing [left?] [illegible] get them to [leave?] there [gun?] boats. We can make then [bounce?] wors than thelades dos when they play leep frog and lizard but I am afrade they are will make us [bounce?] [illegible] a [hide?] we are at it. I would like the [illegible] in the [illegible] com home before we got in a [illegible] There is no chance. I met Doctor [illegible] yestedey as we was comeing on he [illegible] as [illegible] as ever. I dident get the chance to talk with him long. The officers is so strict. They want the men to stay in lines all the times. When I saw him you bet I fell out of lines to see if he had any letter for me but he did not hav any one for me. He went on to Waterhousees [Waterhouse] Regament. He said he would come and see us before he went home. There has orders come for us to get reddy to go abord of the boats this eavning. Ile hav to make my letter short. We hav to fare pretty [suff?]. When we left Monrow we had to turn over all of our tents but [six?] and they are so small they wont hold our things hardley. When it raines we will hav to take it. I and Earley slep under a waggon last night to keep out of the rain and this eavning they are turning over all of the waggons but one to too companes. Times gets harder with the soldiers Ive got so I just wis this confederacy was toar all to smash and turned bottom [up?]. Is this ware never will close untill the men just quits. Betty I dont know when I can come to see you. If you can make any arangements to come to see me do so any [from?] [has?] got so it wasent [worth?]. Ile close by saying I remain your affectionate husband untill death. William E Stoker to Mrs E. E. Stoker.
People
Full name
John George Walker
