Fredricksburg March the 7th 1862
Dearest Eliza
I recon you begin to think again
that I have for saken you it has ben so
long since I have written you a letter but
I beg you not to scold unless you do
not consider my excuse good I have ben
quite unwell for the last three weeks
ten days ago the sick were all ordered
to the rear my name was on the list to go
and as we expected to start next day I thought
I would not write until I found where I was
going I did not get off from camp until the
third day after the order came then had to stay
in Dumfries three days before there could be any
conveyance had from there abd such an other place
I never want to see again as the hospital (hog pen
I call it) was there I had no bed but slept
three nights on the floor and it as nasty as
it well could be and full of lice to boot
my self and three others used four boxes of mer
curial ointment when we left to gt rid
of them I left Dumfries last monday
in an open wagon the ground covered with
snow and it raining got to Acqua vilage
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a distance of eight miles that night and such
roads stretch your imagination to the farthest
extent and then you have no notion of their condition
I have seen six mules hitched to one wagon not
heavier than mine at home and then cant hard
ly get a long we stayed Acquia in an ould
deserted house had to hunt wood to make a fier
and slept on the floor they started us (59 men)
from Dumfries about twelve oclock without any
diner and gave us nothing to along I found
before hand how it would be and ran away and
bought me a few crackers and some butter had to
pay 25 cts per lb for the crackers and 15 for the
butter some of the men had nothing to eat and
no money after we stoped it commenced raing
and rained verry hard all night in the morning
Acquia creek was raised so much by the rain and
snow melting that we could not cross and had
to stay there until wednesday morning while at
Acquia Lieutenant McCulloch (who had command of
the train) got a barrel of sea crackers and a little
bacon which you know is poor eating for sick men
the crackers were as hard as a rock and the bacon
had to be broild on the coles I had the [luck] while there
to get some dried apple pies (rap jackets
the children call them) I got to this place wednes
day night after a cold disagreeable days travel
I am now staying in the first hospital which
is the best I have seen any where every thing
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is kept clean and nice I have a good bed to
lie on the fare is verry good we have beefe bacon
potatoes (Irish) peas light bread and good warm
corn bread and molases those that are verry sick
have rice fruit eggs buter milk and such things
I have been sick three weeks I have hemorage of the
lungs and a verry bad cough occasioned the Dr sayes
by cold I also have a pain my left sholder and
knee I think however I shal be able for duty in
a few days
there is some great movement on hand our
forces are eather expecting a fight or intend to
fall back but which I cant tell they are send
ing of[f] all the sick and extry bagage our
company sent four to Dumfries but whether
any but myself have gon further I donot know
the were there when I left and I have not
herd from them since they were A J Tolbert
William Thurmond and Walter Davis James
Adams died yesterday was a week ago I must
close as I now have a chance to go to the
post office kiss the children and keep one for
your self give my love to all enquireing
friends
your loving husband
W S Shockley
PS direct your letters as you have don
heretofore WSS