1862 April 17 Camp Tyler Woodstock Va

Camp Tyler Woodstock Va
April 17 1862

Stern Tyler Esqr
Sir thinking a line from a member
of your big Brothers Regt would be read with pleasure
I seat myself this morning to pen the same to you.
17 3 Oclock in the morning A.M. Our Brigade left
Camp one hour ago Marching in direction of Mount--
Jackson where the Rebel General Jackson is supposed
to be with his force & it is said he intends making another
stand, now you may ask yourself the question why it is
that I am Back in Camp & our Regt gone on, I have a
very sore beeling [bleeding?] on one of My legs the Capt advises me
not to undertake to go on March unless it become
actually Necessary, I always Obey Orders but I would
sooner been with the Boys when there is a prospect
of a fight which I dont think Jackson & his men
will stand to face the Music of our instruments for
I dont think they have forgotten us since the Battle
of Winchester yesterday I had the pleasure of reading Genl
Jacksons account of that fight this is taken from the
Richmond Whig it says Jacksons whole force was but
2200 Men the whole Confederate loss in killed wounded
& missing is 465 of whom 90 were killed it would be well to
remember that 249 rebel prisoners was sent from
Winchester to Baltimore the rebels admit that 200 wounded
were carried to Staunton & we know that over 100 of the
Rebel wounded  are at Winchester Genl Shields says
that 27- of the enemy dead were buried on the field
thus it is shown the enemy has at lowest figures is
867, their force in Infantry 9000 Cavalry 6600 their
Artillery consisted of 36 pieces, We had 6000 Inft. and
a cavalry force of 750 & 24 pieces of artillery, So says
our General Stern it was a hot old time which I am
personally aware of for we was in front which position
we held with honor to ourselves & our officers

[page 2]
the Col was amongst us all the while as Acting Brigadier
Genl the Officers of our Regt has since signed a petition
to have him Commissioned Brigadier which I along
with a great many others hope will be done. the
Cols hea[l]th has not been very good for the past few
days but he is off with the boys this Morning
My hea[l]th is good with the Exception of the a sore
leg hoping yours & all the ballance of the folks in NewCastle
to ge the same without the sore leg.  Stern give my
Kind Regards to all the boys Tom Falls Bill Cochran
Bill Emery & any others who may enquire for me
& tell them to write & I will answer & Keep them
posted if they open the correspondence, say to the
three Month boys that are at  home I say they dont
know the first principles of war had they been with
us through our long Marches Bivouacing in the Brush
for ten days at a time the coldest part of the
Winter with Nothing but a Blanket to shelter
ourselves from the piercing winds we had to encounter
& not More than we could Masticate of Hard bread
Salt pork & coffee they would have experienced
a change between this & guarding the Northern
Central R.R. in warm pleasant weather
but so far I have regretted that I come
if I get home safe & sound which I always thought
I would I have seen Enough to talk about & think
of for the ballance of My days,
Now Stern write soon & often & I will answer
Now I will close by signing Myself
Very Respectfully Yours
W. W. Houk
Direct to Washington D. C.
Co. I 7th Regt Ohio Inft
Shield Division
stamps not to be had in this county I leave you to pay postage
when you Call at Capt Duffys think of your humble servant
for there is none to be had out here you may depend--Houk

Sterns Tyler, the recipient, later joined the Union Army himself and the remainder of the letters in this collection were written home by him to his wife Mary.  Your "big Brother's Regt" refers to his older brother General Erastus B. Tyler, 1822-1891, the successful merchant who raised the 7th Ohio and tangled with Jackson in the Valley.  William W. Houk eventually was promoted to Sgt.  Nothing further is known about him.


MSS 15204