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

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

Camp Cold Harbour June 11 1864

Dear Wife

        with pleasure I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you to say that I am well at presant wishing you the same I want you to send me the latest Gazette there is nothing but abolishion papers hear I want to (see?) both sides of the question you need not be afraid of me voting the republican ticket for I will not vote at all if I can not vote the Dimocratic ticket their is a good _______________________ � enay letters from enny body since we left Camp Chase but one from you untill I got these three I have written three letters home I wrote one to Thanel I have not receive any answer
        I have to go out on picket to night to watch for rebbles there is not much danger the bullets comes wizing over my head one has just went over now there is an old reb up in a tree somewhere he is a sharp shooter we cannot find him or else we could fetch him out of that we have got sharp shooters too. tell me who was drafted about their tell me all the news be sure and send me a Gazett the latest one you wanted to know how much money I got from Charley I got four dollars I am not near as strong as I was when I was when I was at home I have fell away a good deal I have dirrea so bad that it has run me down I am verry poor I wish I could get home. no more at present

                Thomas W Stephenson

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