One of Thomas W. Stephenson's letters to his wife, Elizabeth

Letter written by Thomas W. Stephenson to his wife, Elizabeth

Camp Chase April 5th 1864

Dear Wife

        I take the oportunity of writing a few lines to you I am well at presant wishing that you are the same and the children I would like to see you and the children. I cannot tell you how soon I will get enny money to send to you we was organized on Monday but we did not get enny money we have drawn our close (clothes). the measles is verry bad here there was a young man just by us he took the measles and he was sick only a few days and died in the hospital his mother told him be fore he started away from home that if he took the measles that he would never get well and he said that he wanted to go home that he did not want to die in the hospital but he did not get home his father was there all the time he was sick there was another out of this same shanty taken to the hospital to day that makes 4 out of 1 shanty it looks hard to see them go but they are well cared for. they have a god (good) bed to lay on I go to meeting every night here in Camp we have good preaching by Methodist has Marshal [Elizabeth Piper Stephenson's brother] gone to Massalon [Stark County, Ohio] yet. I wrote one letter to you and one to Thanial [Nathaniel, Elizabeth Piper Stephenson's brother] and have not received enny answer I wont scold either of you I will have pacints (patience) may by I well here from you soon but I have not got a letter since I was at home their is another of our boys taken the measles there is one of our boys in the hospital with the measles he is worse to night he has caught cold his name Charles Cater he is from Somerton [Note: Charles W. Cater joined the Army on February 27, 1864 and died April 10, 1864 at Camp Chase, Ohio. He was from Somerset, Perry County, Ohio.] I want you to write soon it is getting late and I am getting sleepy tell Thaiel to write soon
                I am still cooking yet
                There is 4 cooks now we have 95 men to cook for now
                Good night Dear Lizzy
                From your husband
                Thos W Stephenson

(on the back side of the 2nd page is handwritten the name �Elizabeth Stephenson� 7 times)

A special thanks to Martha Williams for contributing this information. Thomas W. Stephenson was her great great grandfather.