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Camp Near Delhi July the 14th A.D. 1863. Dear Wife it is with pleasure that I seat my self this eavning to drop you a few lines to let you know that I am well and I hope when thees few lines comes to hand they will find you and familey in the best of helth. Ive no nuse to write that would interest you. You hav heard before now I reckon that Vicksburg has fell in the hands of the feds. Our men surrendered it on the 4th of this month. They did it on the account of provisions. The feds has had the place surrounded some time. They perrished our men out and they had to surrender. They never could of whipped us there if we had of had provisions enough there. They hav ben trying it right studdy too months. They tryed all kinds of plans but they couldent get in to the fort. I understand that Port Hutson [Port Hudson] has ben taken by the feds but I dont know wether it is so or not. I hear of a great deal of fightting on the other side of the river. Our men has ben victorious over there. General Lea taken forty thousand prisoners in one fight besids what he killed and wounded. I will hav to make my letter short. We hav got orders to be reddy to march at a minuts warning. The last letter that I got from you was dated the 10th of June. We think that something has got rong with the mail. If you dont get letters regular from me you may know that something is rong. I write every 10 days and oftiner sometimes. I feal verry uneasy about you. You stated in the last letter that I got from you that you was not well. I hope and trust to the good Lord that you are well by this time when you get this. Write and let me know how you are and all the neighbors and Mothers folks and Sids familey. Let me know how your big sis has got. I want to come home to see you just as bad as ever but I cant get off without you. Can fix up some big tale and write to me? There was one man in our companey got a furlow that way. His wife wrote to him that his house and his kitchen was burned up and every thing that they had in them and that she had know where to go to. It takes the best kind of a plea to get off. Tell Mr Colyer and Sis that I hav ben looking for a letter from them for some time but all in vain. I think they hav forgot me. It would be a great consolation to me to read a letter from them. I hav got too letters from sister Jane but I havent got the scratch of a pen from Mr Griffin and sister Susan. I hav got a verry nice ring I made you out of a shell. Ile send it the first good chance. Betty let me know how you are off for provisions and your prospect for another year. I havent any thing to send you. It takes all the money that I draw to bye my tobacce. We hav to pay 4 and 5 dollars a plug. I hav ben trying to quit but I get sick every time I try to quit. Betty hav me too soots of close reddy so if I can get any way to get them Ile sent after them. Mine has about giv out. Ile close. May the good Lord bless you and provide for you is the sinceer desiers of your affectionate husband William E. Stoker. Kiss Priscilla for me and Ile return the favor when I see you. I saw Sid and Thomas about a week a goo. They was both well. To Mrs Elizabeth Stoker.
