Camp near Dumfires Feb 13th 1862
Dearest Eliza
As Thad Harrison is going home
in the morning I thought you would be sure
to expect a letter Thad was ready to start
with the Captain but just as they were
starteing orders cam for only the Capt and a
private to go and Thad was left this eivening
orders cam for two more men to go
I have no newse that will be interesting we
hear a great many reports about the yankees
being at Florence and Tuscumba Ala — but do
not be lieve much of it we heard day before
yesterday that they had landed on Roanoak Island
and ta ken three thousand of our me[n] priseners
yesterday we herd that they had only killed and
taken fifteen hundred to day we heard that
they had not take the place attall to mor
row I expect it will be that the confederate
fleet has taken New York
the health of the Company is not so good
as it has ben A J Tolbert one of my mess
mates is verry sick he was taken with cramp
cholic and has not got over it yet Walt
Davis is down with fever Dick Wilhite has
had a light attack of fever but is up again
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my own health is verry good at this time
we have had some beautiful weather this week
it looks like we all ought to be fixing plant
corn in stead of what we are at here
as there has ben a gretdeal said about our
fare here I will make a few state ments which
will show just how we live we generally draw
seven days rations at one time (except beef that
we draw every two days) four days of meal and three
of flour we get 1 ¼ lbs of meal per day which is a
fraction less than a peck per week the meal is
sifted when we get it so we dont get any bran
one pound and two ounces of flour so in one week
we get 5 lbs meal and 3 lbs and 6 ozs of flour we
draw beef 6 days and bacon one in the week we
get 1 ¼ lbs beefe and ¾ lb bacon per day we get nearly
a half pint of coffee per man a week and half
lb of shugar the company has one flour barrel full
and annother nearly half of rice each mess goes
and gets it when they want it and donot use
near all we get we get a little over a pint of
salt for six men per week and two candles to the
mess we donot get enough salt I want you to
send me some colored thread for patching my
pants I must close as it is getting late tell
the children howdy and kiss them
yours in love W S Shockley