Stephen Alpheatus Corker was born May 7th, 1830 in Burke County Georgia which is near Augusta. He died in Waynesboro, Georgia on October 18, 1879. He was a lawyer, soldier and US Congressman. These letters were written mostly to his wife before the War between the States, during the War and after when he served in the 41st US Congress. These letters tell the span American history from 1859 to 1872. "Copyright, 2012, John C. Hall, Jr."

Friday, May 18, 2012

March 3, 1871



42

Washington DC
March 3rd 1871
½ past 1 o’clock at night

Dear Wife: Good luck again.  Well you ask what is it.  The House past a resolution today giving me the seat against Beard.  So far, so good.  But the House went further & passed a resolution giving the Ga members of the 41st Congress $5,000 – five thousand dollars each.  The tax on it will be about $150,  But after paying expenses including the contest & board here, will leave me at least $4,000.  I go to New York Sunday morning & will buy you a good clock.  This is all you have written for.  Hope I will hear from you in the morning.  Well I have been lucky all my life &  can’t say I deserve it.  I have always wondered why I never got hurt in the War.  But I reckon our Father thought I was not fit to go.  This is the last day of the 41 Congress & I think we will sit all night.  It is now 15 minutes of 2 o’clock at night & no prospect of an adjournment.  I do wish you could see the Capitol buildings.  They are most magnificent.  Over head is a fancy glass roof showing the coat of arms of each state.  The lights are all in the roof & the gas is lighted by electricity.  In the twinkling of an eye the whole overhead flames brilliantly.  The whole house is six hundred feet & 4 inches long and 300 hundred feet wide.  All solid granite.  It is a huge, grand pile & will never be disolved til the judgement day.  It is said to be the finest building in the world.  Well kiss my boys & give all my love.
Your aff husband
                               Fes




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