Nathaniel S. Wheeler to Ellen F. Stanley, 9 May 1867
Head Quarters Co. "G"
125th U.S.C.Troops
Fort Bliss Tex
May 9th 1867
 
Dear Nellie
           I have not rec'd but one letter from you for a long time the last was dated April 7th 67. and three papers suppose that they are stopped on the way somewhere so do not find fault with you as I am so far from Gods country I do not expect much. I am in good health feel fine now the weather is very warm this at 100o in the coolest place I could find and it runs to 125o in the sun. on Monday I went to San Elizario 22 miles below this place on the River & came back yesterday on horseback which by the / the way all travailing is done here it would be quite a trip in N.H. I have got so a hundred & fifty miles is nothing at all not enough to make it interesting 50 miles a day on horseback is not anything at all now. I had a very pleasant trip only very warm went on purpose to see the country as I want to see all I can of it before I leave as I do not wish to come back to see it
 
            This valley with Yankee enterprise and a marker could be made the Garden of the world almost as I think no place I have seen is so fertile as this is by irrigation, such pear, peach, apricott and apple trees as from here the world cannot bear. pear trees 60 ft high and a ft through at the butt and other trees in proportion grapes are raised by the acres, wine made by the Bbl but no marker for such things & so they are left to grow as they please I never saw such vineyards as there is here the vines are in full blossom now. the pears are as large as walnuts peaches almost full / grown, peas in blossom but every thing is on the Mexican style, poor & shiftless. they have no enterprise and in fact I do not so much blame them as God never smiles upon the country it is all frowns and what they do is against gods will I often think the climate is so good is all that it has to redeem the country from its miserable condition! if we could have it in N.E. it would excel the Garden of Eden of old in my opinion.
 
            I do not go any where have not been to Franklin or El Paso for almost three weeks do not go away at all Capt. Seran & myself are alone so do not go around any. Tell Tom Day that Mrs Burnham has a young Texan daughter born the 5th, all O.K. that makes the 3d since we left the States in the Regt. some on recruits for they are all girls. I have not heard from Capt Day for several days he was well then
 
Please remember me to all /
I am Nellie yours Truly
as ever with lots of kisses
Natt S Wheeler
7485
DATABASE CONTENT
(7485)DL0218.02599Letters1867-05-09

Tags: Animals, Farming, Food, Mail, Mexico, Newspapers, Racism, Religion, Weather

People - Records: 2

  • (2591) [writer] ~ Wheeler, Nathaniel S.
  • (2596) [recipient] ~ Stanley, Ellen Frances ~ Wheeler, Ellen Frances

Places - Records: 2

  • (492) [origination] ~ El Paso, El Paso County, Texas
  • (1945) [destination] ~ Enfield, Grafton County, New Hampshire

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SOURCES

Nathaniel S. Wheeler to Ellen F. Stanley, 9 May 1867, DL0218.025, Nau Collection