1st page

Camp Wigfall March 21st 1862
Dearest Eliza
I seat myself to drop you
answer to your letter of the 12th Which
was received thursday the recrutes landed
that day have lain over in Richmond two
days theyare all well except bad colds and
in good sperits there was 51 came more men
than we had on duty of the old company I was
aggreeably surprised for there was a good many
old acquaintances among them that I did not
expect to see Mr Pharr and John Rogers came
in to my mess Many thanks for the things
you sent me the eatables were accepable indeed
as I have eat scarcely any thing for the last
six weeks but bread and Coffee or water I am
not now like the man whos Daguereotype
you wanted to see some time back I am
up and going about but am not well it
will be six weeks tomorrow since I have don any
duty I cant tell what is the matter the
Dr said at first that it was cold settled on my
lungs I believe he thought there was noth
ing the matter until a few days back when
I would go to be examined they would tell
me that I need nothing but to rest a day
or two that was the song for five weeks
last monday Dr Roach told me that
I was ina bad condition and commenced
giveing me medicine but it has don
me no good yet I have a dose of blue pills
to take to night I dont think he
knows what is the matter with me
[page 2]
2nd page

I have a verry bad cough and pains in my
breast and left sholder I can hardly hold
a gun in my left had and cant near to
draw a long breath
I received per Wess Mcelhanon [1] some butter
1 cake and some sweet hearts four big yam
potatoes sent I suppose by Paulena and
Rena give them my best love and a thousand
thanks tell them it is the best heart I have had for
many days. they could have sent me nothing
that would have ben more accept able
I got the pipe stems and Book one pair pants
1 pair drawers 1 shirt and one under shirt 1 pair socks
1 pair gloves 1 comfort 1 handkercheif and it is
wearing out now the necktie your Mother sent
tell her I am much obliged to her for it
and well pleased with it it is some thing
new to me and the boy all think it verry
nice it is some what confedrate its self
I was a little puzzled with your confedrate
shirt to know what the button are made
of tell Mathe I got the pop corn and am
mity proud of it becaus Mathe sent it the
thread and scrops I got too I believe that
is all the gloves socks comfort and under
shirt I have no use for I think I had socks
enough to last through the summer my other
comfort and gloves will last another
winter unless I wear them more than I have
this the comfort I shall keep how ever and
sell the old one if any I have not tried
my pants on yet so cant tell how they will fit
you need not send me any more til I tell you
[page 3]
3rd page

as they wont be in my way now I will try to
make out with what I have got til fall I am
glad you did not send me but one pair
we have orders to be ready to leave here at
a moments warning I have more now than
I can carry
Tell Cynthia and Mary I will make them
a ring if I can get any thing to make them
of there is no Ivy about here that I have
seen some of the boys have ben makeing them
from cow hoof which is very nice if I can get
any I will make them some
Capt Jarrett [2] brought me a letter from Mr 
Moore if you see him tell him I will answer
it some time but think I am under no
obligation to be in a hurry I thought he had
entirely forgotten me I also received a
letter from father the second since I have
ben in va — as I want you to know
exactly what he wrote I send it to you
his statement a bout the cow is a little
different from yours I want you to keep
it tell willis I want him to take care
of my gun I may want it yet to kill
Yankees my head aches so
bad I shall have to close I have had
several spells of my old sick headache
lately and I shall have an other to
night When you write direct your
leter to Fredericksburg va —
General Hoods Brigade 18th Regiment
Ga volunteers Co C yours till death
W. S. Shockley