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

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

Envelope dated ____1864, Washington D.C.    [Est. After May 12, 1864]
Addressed to:      Mr. Lorenzo C. Stephenson
                              Demos
                              Belmont Co. Ohio

We are within 10 miles from Whitehouse Landing

Dear Wife

        I take the pleasure to set down to answer 3 letters from you that I received last evening which found me in good health I was glad to hear from you and the children you want to know what I have to eat well my rations concists of hard crackers which the number is 11 for one days rations 1 pound of beef for one day and some coffee and sugar we can get apples they are small and green but I stew them up and break some hard tack with them make them one half and they taste pretty well but I would give one dollar for one of your curants pies I know that they are good if I could get some corn meal I would feel better than I do I feel a good deal better than I did a week ago I am so tired of beef and crackers you wanted to know if I cooking yet no I have to take the gun I have not got a scratch yet I thank the good being for his goodness towards me I want you to rember me in your prayers for I do remember you and the children for I feel it my duty to do so I can not send enny close home yet their is no express office here I have nothing to send now it is verry hot here in day time and cold at night if it was warm at night I would send another blanket home I can not get letter stamps hear may be that I can get home when this campaign is over I cannot tell you when I will draw enny more money I could not send it home with safety I can not express it now and I have only one three cent piece in silver that is all the money I have and I want to bring it home for shanny or send it well lizy some times I wish I was at home again for this is a verry wicked war it is a heathen war their never was such war since the world was new their is at this time at the white house landing several hundred of soldiers laying their some with their legs shot off close to their bodies some with out an arm some with part of the head shot away they are laying their in the son and their wounds not drest yet I tell you it seems hard I do not think that their will be piece untill they compromise it will not end by fighting there is no union or constitution about it as I can see nothing but slawter and murder they do not want me to write home about hard times that I see heare but cannot help it we have suffered verry much for something to eat on our marches they would march us all day and all night and nothing to eat but a little beef our field officers brought the regiment from Camp Chase before we was organized the 60th was not known in the field that was the reason why we could not get our rations if we had not got our rations we was going back to Camp Chase the regimen has lost heavely one half of it is not ___________

        Mrs. Catheran Bryan I will right a sorrowful letter to you John was wounded in the right shoulder and the right lung I did not get to see him he told Joe Mayhugh to me not to write to you he was taken to Fredricksburgh and he died their [Note: Military records show John D. Bryan was killed May 12, 1864, in battle of Spottsylvania, Virginia] our Colonel got his money and he said that he would express it as soon as could get a chance I expect he has sent it before this time
                        Thomas Stephenson

                Directions
                Washington City
                60th Reg't O. V. I.
                Co C in care of Capt.T. B. Kile [Note: Captain Thomas B. Kyle]

                Thomas W. Stephenson
                To Elizabeth and Lorenzo, Philetus and Shanon Stephenson


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




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Created:  13 April 2009
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