35A

Johnson’s Island Ohio

December 5th 1864

My Dear Darling Wife-

A better day has come round again, I must again perform the most pleasing of all chores ___, write to you. Your last letter of Nov. 9^th has just reached me & has afforded me great happiness, but I see with regret that you are looking for me home – regret because, I do not belive there is the least possibility of my being exchanged if at all. Soon – But this must not make you un happy, but continue to trust in God who, is the wise disposer of all events – Your to me known Christian fortitude, is a great solace, but yet I sympathize with you because, the sole care & training of our beloved son is in yr hands – But I am grateful to god that , he has spared you to me & to him, for I feel that he could not be in more discrete over – every day day in my isolation & retirement here with such swfule opportunities to reflect over the whole part. I ____ God that , I have been Sheppard with so noble, & excellent a wife – All prisoners that have been sent away some emphatically invalids & some of the most emancipated ______. This being the case I can not hope to get iffm fir nt geaktg continues very fine. But I am able if not willing to stay & shall not ______- Dear Cant you send to Dr Garmin a lot of wood, or provisions & tell him to send to New York $100 & place it to my credit or this place it ____ to my order? You must not do if ___ you think it advisable for I have had plenty furnished ____ by Mr Noll & he has done so with a liveral hand of his sending me more than asked for – He is endeared to me for life – I ____ it well enough however, to get Mary from if I can – Capt Sneed’s father has sent him $300 from home; but be sure & do as you like, about it. I sent you a power of atty, but presume you have got it. Write me a heap about son & send me the ____________.

Your devoted husband

Stephen A Corker

Capt & Prisoner war