US Gen Marine Hospital New Orleans L'a May 20^th 1864

 

Dear Wife

            Day before yesterday I recd two letters from you and one from Mrs Drum Hers I answered yesterday and gave her all of the information in regard to her husband matters that I could as near as I can learn there is about $200. due her of his pay and bounty and then she is entitled a bounty of pension of eight dollars per month or 96 dollars per year

 

            I was very glad to get your letters as I always am to hear from you and to know that you are all well

 

You speak of having cold backward weather at home this spring it has been a backward spring here to what it was last spring but now the weather is very warm, corn around here is up 3 feet high and there is plenty of ripe plumbs & blackberries in market now Strawberries was ripe some 6 or 7 weeks ago, and a plenty of green cucumbers / Mellons will soon be ripe here Lettuce and green Onions we have all winter

 

            I am glad that you get my letters all right and that my money reaches you safe, but am sorry that Mr Reynolds did not get his letter before he went away so that you could have the money to use. You say that you had rather I would send the money all at once instead of sending as I did before well I sent you last week $20. of my last pay and will send you $5. more in my next letter the reason that I sent it as I did before was because I was expecting to come home and I thought that I could bring it with me. If I do not come home before long I shall try to send you another box of things if I can get anything worth sending and after this I shall get three dollars a month more wages so I shall be enabled to send you a little more money after each pay day for I am to have sixteen dollars per month after this 

 

            Give my respects to Mr Cook and tell him that I am very much obliged to him for his kindness to you since I have been away from home I will do all that I can to pay him for his kindness

 

With regard to my furlough I shall get it just as soon as they can get some one to take my place while I am gone as soon as they do I will write and let you know

 

With regard to the death of Capt Vandusen and Bury Vaughn I do not know anything about it. Just after the fight at pleasant hill it was rumored that Vandusen was either killed or taken prisoner but as to Bury I have not heard of him since he went from here last winter. Since the fight all communication with the army has been cut off and so we have not got any particulars But now I believe our army has cut their way through and are on their way down here if so I shall soon hear from them and get the particulars of the fight

 

Mrs Drums letter stated that Bill Boyall was wounded in the fight but I have heard nothing of it here

 

The Report of the Veteran reserve Corps going to Washington only includes the first Battalion they left here for the North some time since and I presume are now in Washington

 

            Have you recd my letter yet that had Dr Benedicts photograph in I hope you have for I would not loose it for anything. I do not recolect as you have said anything about getting my letter that I wrote the 18^th of March it had ten dollars in it did you get it

 

            I will write to Frank & lilly just as soon as I can get time I would like to see them very much I dreamed last night that I was home with you but this morning I awoke and found my self yet in the Marine Hospital But I had the pleasure of dreaming about home if I was not there 

 

            But I shall have to stop writing and go to work again                       

 

Write as often as you can I will write more to you soon again and will try to do better in sending you money here after

                                                                       

From yours Affectionately

as Ever

L. V. Tucker

SOURCES