805. 18TH ALABAMA MARCHES TO MEET YANKEES A good war-date Confederate officer's letter written in ink by Lt. Simon C. Wilkerson, Co. E, 18th Alabama Infantry, 4pp. 8vo., "Near Wartrace, Tenn., June 3, 1863" to his wife. In part: "...Brother Washington...is Surgeon of the 25th La regiment which rgt. left this place for Vicksburg while we were at Allisonia...our entire Army moved to the front this morning with two day rations...I...was left in command of the encampment of the 18th Ala...They seemed very cheerful and will make a good fight...our brigade sent back after all their litters and hospital wagons...the enemy is advancing on us... we have as many men as the enemy has, and all we want is for them to come out and give us a chance..the army will either fight or return in two days as they only have two days ration and no cooking utensils with them...I sent my boy out after something to eat this morning. He succeeded in getting me one lb. of butter and 3 doz. eggs...we could live a little better than we do but my mess will not consent to pay for extras and consequently we will have to eat what we can get from other sources. We will know how to appreciate home when we get there and will be very apt to stay there if we are not driven from them by our wives. I think I would be a mighty clever fellow before I would have my wife to run me away...I don't know what I would do if I did not have your picture and could not hear from you...If the Yanks get there I can't stand this...they would be rather hard with you as you have a brother in the army and a husband in command of a company. They would soon learn these things and be more insulting than they would be otherwise and then I could not hear from you or have you come to see me if I should get sick or wounded...from your affect husband - Simon...". Wilkerson served faithfully with his regiment until he was captured during the battle of Missionary Ridge on Nov. 25, 1863 and sent to Johnson's Island prison camp. He remained there until the close of the war and returned home after signing the oath of allegiance on June 13, 1865. Minor spotting, else very good. $150-200