Hosp 5^th Corps

City Point

Sept 6^th 1864

 

My dear Col.

            Your letter of the 31^st came tonight and so kind and earnest appeal from a suffering brother shall not go with its demands unsatisfied and moreover I have plenty of time to write for a N.E. storm has made men like unto the birds of the air—they cover their heads early. 2½ months have I been a police officer and now having things quite comfortably fixed I am tomorrow to move about a mile to get the shelter of the woods along the river bank "Oh ever thus" in Army / life ride all our campaigns and rural settlements. But I intend to survive it I believe Dr Dalton, Chief Med. Officer will try to get barracks put up for use this winter and obviate the necessity for two breakings up. Something must be done though for the nights are growing cold and wounded men ought not to be heavily covered That we shall remain near our lines as they now are through the winter is manifest to carry on and engineers are busy in making new lines for works both in rear and in front. Our hold on the Weldon Road is beginning to be felt for rebel pickets are very anxious to buy or swap for bread and corn rebel officers have sent in greenbacks and / a haversack requesting bread for the money. It may be only a ruse but it dont look like it I can tell you no news. you get the telegraphic communications to the press sooner earlier than we, and know all the sooner earlier I had half expected to see you this summer I could make you very comfortable plenty of good grub and hard bread not seen on the table. can give you good custard pies, puddings ice cream, brandy punch frozen—'tis a good way to take stimulants that with a spoon—and many other delicacies to a soldier too numerous to make mention of. Do come! It is more than probable that my muster out will not be given me in Dec. neither / will my resignation be accepted. Old Griff has decided to keep me and mainly owing to a letter I wrote him about Mecroni's case. The doctors at the front told Griffin that Mecronie was improving when they sent him down here I thought he was dying when he came in and wrote as much or nearly as much to the General. he did die after 13 hours in the hospital

 

I suppose you will say "So Faxon can kill soldiers quicker than the others". I am comfortably situated here and would as lief as not run the hospital for a year if the government wants me in the place I am assured that I am to remain as long as this hospital is kept at the "Base of supplies" / and my friends made this season tell me I can soon be promoted to Surg. U.S.N. if I will take a commission as Asst Surg. I hardly know what to do. Mrs Faxon is at home and if you haven't seen her for so long a time your interest in the domestic affairs of your old comrades must have slackened. I advise you to look to it or your reputation as a watchful fatherly friend may become seriously impaired

 

If Cobb wished to perpetuate his noble warlike and heroic line by his a 2^d son I am truly sorry. I have no doubt but he will succeed better the next time, and his hopes be reestablished on a sure foundation Give him my sympathy or congratulations, which ever he needs most. 

 

In a few days say 10, I expect to know something about the chances of a permanent establishment this winter If we remain a Depot Hosp. I shall send for Mrs F. and shall expect you to come down with her. I know of no other way in wh you could serve me better or make yourself more agreeable to a forlorn grass bachelor. I see Hoyt almost every day. he flourishes like a green bay tree and often times flings his arms abroad, him now cogitating some piece of satanic work and if opportunity offers will I am sure make the bones rattle. I have expostulated with him I have fussed unto him (or my friend did: all the same) and he has not danced. So now I / expect I must pray with him or adopt some other equally effective measure to soften his obdurate heart. I am determined to save him yet. Knowing many at home will be grateful that he is restored to them as good as 'tis possible for a soldier to be.

 

I dont see Edmunds very often haven't seen Cunningham since he was promoted. when I do I will not forget your wishes Odione comes down quite often for medical stories and always calls to see me I am not very busy now having but 800 patients I sometimes have as many as 2300 and then I am quite alive with work. I don't go to the front much: the last time I was there, at Griffin's Hd Qrs. the rebs shelled the / place, and I thought the more malarial atmosphere at the mouth of the Appomattox healthier so left after bidding the Staff an affectionate but rather hasty good bye

 

I didn't know how great a coward I was until these 4 mos at the rear taught me If it depends on myself I'll never be shot in action.

 

Griffin praises the 32d very highly this summer and says 'tis the best regiment in the division. And brought out with it better material than he ever saw in any other. Truth will out you see. The 4^th Mich is coming out again Major Hall has 900 men and will be Colonel. you know him I think as Capt

 

Doctors are really being / stopped. the 83^d Penna. will take home tomorrow all its field and line officers but no medical ones by order of Gen Meade. I call that conscripting Medical officers and those too who have served their term. Another of the benefits of a republican form of government. When will we have a king I am growing weary with delay. I'm sorry for Little Mac but he wont be elected on account of the character of the men who composed the convention. Seymour of N.Y. isn't a worthy cuss anyhow, and his speeches as I've seen them are rather mean for a man with American blood in his veins.

 

I shant vote, being opposed to the system 

 

Please tell the wise and oracular Stephenson—the [?] youth with a vitreous optic—that he owes me a letter. To be sure I sent him none but isn't he exempt from the draft and I am not. I can now appreciate the remark of the American youth of African descent to a Saxon, ""yu'll wish youse a nigger for dis war's ober" I think of Shakespeare once in a while here, especially when we are planting some array of our soldiers. "to what "Base" uses do we come at last". but that is treading on a solemn ground. I hope you wont get bored reading so much if you do please tell me and I will be shorter next time, though I've not quite writ out this one. I hope some day to / sit and puff a cloud on your piazza seaward turned and recount hair breadth escapes, and thrilling adventures that never happened, but wh by the lurid light of the war in wh they were to have happened will pass for solid truth to the ones who did not fight bleed and die for country's sake.

 

            Remember me kindly to Mrs. Parker and friends in and out of your charming family circle and believe me

 

Very truly yours,

W. L. Faxon

 

PS.

            Cobb owes me a letter remind him of his indebtedness.

W.L.F

 

[endorsement]

 

W. L. Faxon

Sept. 6. 1864

SOURCES