Houston 11^th Feb 1864

 

Dear Wife

                        I am to-day enabled to send word to my principal Major Theobald of Enterprise of my capture on the Bay of St Louis by a launch from the gun boat of my being taken by the fleet then departing for Texas to Matagorda Bay where I remained in confinement until the 17^th January when I made my escape by stealth and found my way to Doctor Dodd's on Lavacca river near Texana whose kindness has enabled me to get here with some prospects that I may be able to get through the country home a distance of more than six hundred miles and surrounded by innumerable difficulties other than the expectation of being captured by the Yankees again. I am indeed in a bad plight in spirits for so stupendous an undertaking without a cent to buy bread except what Doctor Dodd has kindly proposed to furnish. This is a terrible blow but must be over come some how or in some way I have a chance to drop this epistle into the express dispatches which will be forwarded to you from Enterprise and if I never get home it will give you aparances that I am trying. Yours affectionately

W G Kendall

 

[overleaf]

 

Enterprise Miss

            Aug 11

 

Mrs Mary P. Kendall

            Ocean Springs

                        Miss

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