October 11, 1861

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                                                                                          Corker, Stephen [1861:  October 11]

[Image on stationary in upper left corner:  several men falling from a hot air balloon with “SECESSION” printed on the balloon and  ‘SOUTHERN POLITICIANS “ON A BUST.”’  Printed above and below image.  This is a yankee patriotic lettersheet disparging the Confederacy.  Corker has added the 1^st National Confederate flag in order to “convert” it.]

[hand drawn image at top of stationary is of a 1^st National Confederate flag]

Camp Geo. Roanoke Island

N.C.  Oct. 11^th 1861 –

Precious Darling

            I wrote you the other day since our trip; since which time I have received your precious letter of the 28^th ultimo times; so I will try it again today thinking I may add something knew to what was then said – I am writing on paper taken from the enemy as Chickamacomick, but I do not adopt their mottoes or devices which they have on their paper or envelopes – I also inclose you a specimen of their envelopes taken at the same time – I tried to get some nice ones which I saw but could not obtain them – Hundreds of all sorts were found some with Jeff Davis with his sword & epaulets on hung to a tree with roap round his neck dangling in mid air – we also got quantities of Camp Kettles, blankets clothes, of all Sorts, Knives, forks, cups, spoons, tents,  cartridges, etc. & provisions enough to feed us 4 months – yesterday we divided our Co. As quota among the messes – To day then is more in our camp than a little, the effects of the tramp –

I wrote you about the enemy ship bombing us – It is not known whether it was the Quaker City, Harriet Lane, or Pawnee but one or the other – One of the men of our Regiment supposed to be lost came in yesterday in a Sail Boat.  Our expedetion was awfully mismanaged.  It is said that wright exhibited personal courage – This may be but I assure you he displayed utter want of skill as an officer – Had he been judicious, had he done as well as one had the Regt. would have done in the same case  We would have had all the enemy prisoners of war & what is more we would have had 800 muskets & all the equipments & a great deal of ammunition – they laid down their arms once to Surrender; thinking we had landed a force below to cut them off as ought to have been done; but on discovering their mistake resumed their march, & escaped into Hateras – 5000 N. Carolina troops were ordered below to land late in the day when it was too late to effect it – The troops were worked hard & it is a shamed that our officer Wright effected nothing for want of judgement & skill – When I labor so I want it to pay – True we got a great deel but nothing to what we ought to have got – Tell Sister her letter has been rec’d & has been replied to – She must write again – Kiss my darling boy – He is the life of us – How much pleasure will he give us when we collect again under our “own vine & fig tree”.  I suppose he is quite pugnacious – you must not let his temper run away with him – Tho I reckon the other children fret him & encourage & laugh at him to see him show himself – I want to see you & him verry much, but don’t know when I shall be able to do so – Wright has gone to Norfolk & I don’t know when he will be back – When we Pursuing  the enemy Wright discovered a squad of eleven of them which he said he thot was the Athens Guards his own Regiment, rode up to them, some of them fired at him, after which 4 threw down their arms & surrendered.  The other 7 fled - He got his horse killed under him & narrowly escaped himself – This is the courage, etc.& SC – but he says if he had known they were enemy he would not have gone – I suppose then it worn down with fatigue would have surrendered to anyone – I am willing to accord to him courage but a lamentable want of Skill – I am quite comfortably fixed; but can’t get anything to read – we know no more than a goose what is going on in the world – will finish this tomorrow –

            I said I would finish this tomorrow, but I learn that a boat to carry the mail leaves at 10 o’clock in the morning.  I will finish it now – I can not say much more than I have already said – We have a blustry evening it is now 4 o’clock & raining & the drum has just beat for the Picket Guard to go out – they will I expect have a bad night – Newton I reckon is at Norfolk – Tell Mother I will take good care of him, if he will mind me & try & keep him from the only vice in  our Camp Guard card playing – which has grown much of late, owing I reckon to want of amusements on this lonely Island – Darling be of good cheer – Nothing is so conducive of good health – Keep busy & active.  Do some little something every day & read & inform yourself.  Be Christianly – Be good –

                                                            Your Devoted Husband

                                                                                 Fes

To  my wife

       M M Corker


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FIRST TWELVE MONTHS OF THE 3RD GEORGIA REGIMENT.
By an Ex-Member. No. 8
I failed, in my account of the Chickamicomico (Chicamacomico) Races, to mention an affair in which Colonel Wright was chief actor. He had ridden on ahead of the regiment, when suddenly some eight or ten yankees, lying in the marshes, jumped up, and commenced firing at him. His horse fell at the first volley. Extricating himself, he seized the smallest of the yankees, who was very near him--a mear boy--and making a shield of him, commenced a regular battle, single handed, with the rest. His escape seems miraculous, but he was not hurt. Some of our boys came up, and took several of the enemy prisoners, while the rest escaped. (I was sick whilst the last number was passing through the press, and, therefore, it was not what I wished it to be.)http://www.3gvi.org/ga3hist3.html