L.A.

Marine Hospital New Orleans

Nov 23^d 1863             

 

Dear Wife

                        I will try again to night to write you a short letter although I am not feeling very strong and may not finish it to night but will have it ready for thursdays mail

 

            My health since I wrote last has been very poor so much so that I have nearly given up all work My strength seems to be all gone nearly if I walk around for a short time I become very tired and have to sit or lie down to rest there does not seem to be any particular disease but simply a prostration of my whole system although I am troubled with the Dyspepsia so that my food does not seem to do me much good and I cannot eat but a little at a time My victuals is all first rate one egg a day oyster or chicken soup for dinner toast and tea or coffee for breakfast & supper. I could have milk but you know that I dont use it / So you see that I do not lack for very good food and can have all that I want of it I shall have to quit writing for to night for I tremble so that I can hardly form a letter

 

            Well to night the 24^th I will try and finish this short letter although my hand is very unsteady yet and trembles a goodeal yet I feel better than I did last night I have been painting on the Doctors buggy this afternoon so you may know that I must have felt better than I did when I commenced this letter yet I am very weak still but hope I shall soon have my strength again. the reason that I have not written more for a while back was because that I have not felt as though I had ambition enough to write

 

I took a bad cold is probably the reason of my present condition and as it leaves me I shall probably get well and be all right again but if I do not get well by the first of Jan I shall try for to get my discharge from Service 

 

The next day after I wrote my last letter Lieut Vandusen was here to see me he was looking as well as I ever him look he came from home here in 8 days he came down the river the chaplain was with him he came and saw me and a long time and talked me he is firstrate company they have both gone to the regiment

 

            That ring that you sent for I shall send in this letter to you I do not know as it will suit you if ever get it but if it does not you can keep it until I come home and then I will wear it for it just fits my little finger it is not made of the button that you sent for that was not large enough but I will make one for Frank or lilly out of that and send home if it will make one

 

            I will send 25^cts in this for Frank you can give it to him when you think he deserves it and it will do him good

 

            As soon as I feel able I shall go down in the city and get my photograph and send you 

 

I wrote to you in one or two of my letters to direct my letters to me at the Marine Hospital New Orleans La in care of doctor Powers and not to the regiment but as I do not get any more they must have gone to the regiment or else there has none come for me in the three or four mails for the mail comes once a week regular and some times twice a week

 

            but I must stop for this time I will try and write again for Saturdays mail

 

Write often to me

 

From yours      as Ever            L. V. Tucker

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