Regimental Hospital  

Lafourche L.A. Aug2 26^th 1863

 

Dear Wife                  

I will again try and write you a short letter in answer to what I recd from you. I am as you you will see in the hospital of the Regt I have been here two weeks to day I have my usual health but the warm weather affects me very much and I have to keep in the house nearly all day. It was rather unexpected to me when the order came to go to the regiment as I had been sent for twice before and the Doctor in charge of hospital refused to let me go but he went on a trip up to Vicksburg and back and left another Doctor to act in his place and the same day that he went away the doctor that he left returned me to the regiment but he and the Steward there had quite a time about it but he would / not let me stay. the Doctor that has charge of the hospital was an old man and one that evry one liked for he always had a kind word for every one I believe that he is from Rochester his name is Jacob Boquel Bokel he wanted me to act as his clerk as soon as he came back from Vicksburgh the Steward there and Doct Powers said that at any time that I could not stand the work in the regiment that I might come back and I shall go if the Regiment has as is expected to go on an other march

 

It is expected that the regiment will have to start for Mobile Alabama next week although we are now stationed along the rail road to guard that. If the regiment does go to Mobile I am pretty sure that I for one shall not go with them for I cannot stand it March some 200 miles through the hot sun as I have never done any marching since I have been South and unless I cannot not help myself I shall not begin now 

 

If I had not had to leave the Marine and come to the regiment I should probably have been home by the middle or last of Sept for I could have got my discharge I think so as to have been home by that time but I think now that I cannot get away but I shall do the best that I can

 

Your letter of Aug 5 & 6^th I recd to day that one you wrote the 11^th & 12^th I got yesterday and I was glad to get them and to hear from home you wrote that you was sick but did not say anything about what was the matter or how long you have been sick can not you do something that will help you to keep your health do not do anything only just as little as you can and try and rest. go to Palmyra and stay with Aunt Sally a week or two or if you are able to stand it go to Seneca and stay a while and try and recover your health do not wait until you get clear down and do not worry about me for I shall do well enough and try and take care of myself as long as I have my reason & strength 

 

you write as if it was a sure thing that W. S. Drake & Seph Cookingham was coming but you need not worry for I do not think that there is any danger of Drakes getting home right away for the Doctor in the hospital where he is thinks that he is not as sick as he makes for and I do not think he will get away very soon but I do think that Seph ought and will get his discharge for if he stays here I do not believe he will ever get well here John Vandusen cannot get home no more than the rest of us he did not conduct himself to suit when he was at Brashear

 

            I am going to write to Mother in a few days about her acting as she does to you. I cannot see why she cannot do as she ought to and scold and grumble so much Ma when you write to me again tell me how much money you have recd from me since the 6^th of Aug I sent you on the 6^th a letter with $10.00 in and another the 10^th with $10.00 more in and the 14^th I sent by J. H. Miller $30.00 more and also a 5 dollar bill york State money that was said not to be good but if it was he was to leave that with you but there was $50.00 with out that the reason that I ask is to know if you get it all right I shall send you five more in this letter and five again in a few days

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