Henry Clay Statue

New Orleans, La April 7^th 1864                    

U.S. General               Marine Hospital

 

            Dear Wife, I will try again to night and write you another short letter although I hardly know what to write yet I must write as often at least as you do even though I write short letters                    Well in the first place I am very well only very tired for I have to work very hard now since I have come into the Dispensary although the work is not so very hard to do, yet I have to keep at it all day with out having any time to sit down except for my meals until bed time & that is frequently not till 11 Oclock at night You can judge for yourself when I tell you that two of us have to prepare the medicines in doses for nearly 700 sick men every day and some of them take medicine every two hours. If I should stay here in this business the ballance of my time I shall be able learn something about medicines I think judging from the amount that I have to handle But the speaking of my meals reminds me that since I have commenced here in the Dispensary I have lived much better than I did before that I now have warm biscuit & butter twice a day steak for breakfast every morning baked beef for dinner and in fact I live first rate now to what I did a short time since 

 

I received your letter that was mailed March the 20^th, last Monday. but I have neglected writing sooner for the reasons that I have been very busy and then again I have been waiting to learn the result about my furlough so that I could let you know what I was agoing to do but do not as yet get any further information about it I presume that the reason is because Gen Banks is up with the army in or near texas I am anxious to find out about it so that I may know what to calculate on and what to write to you, but you may still write to me as usual untill you hear from me to the contrary.                 

 

I think that those pills that you sent me did help me I have not used them near all up yet and you need send me anymore until I write to you for them because what I have got will last me yet for some time I am very much obliged to you for them I wish that I was home with you while Lilly is sick & could help you to take care of her and it would seem like old times again if I was there while it is so cold and mudy but I hope that I can come before long and make you a visit. do not get discouraged but hope for the best When Lilly gets well again do not let her read much for a while I am afraid that her studying so much hurts her /

           

 

There is no news of importance here now except a little skirmishing with the Rebs up on Red River              

 

The picture on the first page of this sheet is a representation of the Clay Monument on Canal Street here, the buildings on East side is stores of different kinds it was near this monument that I got my photograph taken

 

            Tell Frank and lilly that Pa has not forgot them yet and I want him to be a good boy until I come home to see him again

           

But I will stop for this time as I want to go to bed but will write again soon                  

 

Write as often as you can to me

 

From yours as Ever

L. V. Tucker

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