US Gen Marine Hospital New Orleans June 9^th 1864

 

Dear Wife

                                    Yours that was mailed May 30^th I received to day. I was very glad to get it for it had been near two weeks since I had got a letter from you and I was begining to get anxious to hear from you fearing that you was sick and not able to write. But your letter of the 28^th has reached me and informed me to the contrary The letter came through in a very short time the soonest of any that I have ever got. the steamer was only 6 days & 22 hours in coming from New York here

 

            I am surprised that you have not yet got the $20. that I sent you the first of last month I hope that before this time that it has got through all safe for you must need it very much. I sent you $5.00 more in a letter that I wrote you the 3^d of this month

 

            The reason that I did not hear of Vandusens and Bury Vaughn was because that the communications between the army and the city was cut of by the Rebs and it was quite a long time that no mail came down from there and until they cut their way out we could not get any news from them that will account for my not hearing of it /

 

            Well I must say a little with regard to my deserting (although the report started from such a nusance that it is hardly worth noticing) in the first place the lie is very evident right on the start for Bill Boyall never has been here to the hospital to see me or any of the rest of the boys so what he said there was a manufactured lie and it was for to let that be known that I have said anything about it or took any notice of it

 

            As to his coming here to see Jim Drum it is all false he has told that just so as to appear very sympathetic and get up a feeling for himself at home it is to shallow a pretense to have any effect with anyone that knows him as well as I do

 

            Well you say that but little over a year more and then I shall be home. yes in a few days over 14 months and then if nothing happens I shall again be with you and I think that before that time arrives I shall be a citizen or rather a resident of New York State for I think next spring they will at least allow me to serve out the balance of my time in York State

 

            Dr Powers expects to start for home in a few days on furlough of 40 days and will probably then resign his position in the regiment and not come back here at all again 

 

            There is no news here now of any consequence only what comes from the Potomac. Except that it is very hot weather and plenty of showers

 

            I had my photograph taken again last week and I will send you one, you can see if it looks like the other one that I sent you last winter

 

            When I write again I will send you Aunt Sally Hibbards for it will be safer at home than here I would like to see the old girl firstrate I think I could pull her hair some if I had the chance

 

            But I must close for this time but will write again in a few days

 

            I wrote to Jennings to day and sent him one of my photographs

 

Write as often as you can

 

Believe me yours as Ever

L. V. Tucker

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