U. S. General Marine Hospital N Orleans La June 20^th 1864           

 

Dear Wife

                                                            Although but three or four days has passed since I wrote to you last and had calculated to have written to one or both of the children next yet I will postpone their letter for a day or two and write you another short letter first

 

            Yet I have nothing of any consequence to write to you but if you recollect a little circumstance that happened about ten years ago to day (June 20^th 1854) perhaps you will know or at least have an idea of what I mean then you can guess why I write to day particularly                  

 

I do not write this to you thinking that you have forgotten the occurrance by any means no far from it. But it seemed as if I could not help bringing up the subject and thinking about it even though I am a good way from home yet my heart & thoughts are with you and I trust that upon a return of this day again that we may be to gether again as we were heretofore and hope that we shall not part again very soon. But my heart feels sad and I must drop the subject hoping that we shall soon meet again

 

            I do not know how long that I shall be here for there is an unusual stir here in this Department just now an order has been issued so I understand to break up all of the hospitals here and such of the men as are not able to return to their Regiments are to be sent North either furloughed or discharged yesterday the Examination commenced and about 19 out of every 20 is either / furloughed or discharged and some are to be sent to the hospital at St Louis. I presume that I shall have to go to St Louis perhaps not for I am going to try hard for something better. But have little hopes of accomplishing much. I am going to pack up a box of stuff to send home I shall probably pack it to day or to morrow and send it as soon as I can before long at all events. I shall send some things probably that may seem strange to you but I will explain to you in a letter when I send them

 

I shall have to stop writing now until night and will then try and finish my letter

 

            Well I will try and finish my letter although I hardly know of anything more to write yet I do not want to send you a sheet of blank paper for a letter so if I write something that is not very interesting you must excuse me for this time and I am in hopes that I shall be able to do better hereafter                 

 

Well we are all in the suds now in getting the sick ready to move north about 250 are to be furloughed and a lot discharged. Some are to be transfered to the hospitals at St Louis and it all has to be done this week so you see that for a few days we have got some work to do

 

            June 23^d          I had to break off pretty short where I was writing and postpone for a time on account of the work, so as I got up at 4 Oclock this morning I will try and finish this now for pretty soon I shall have to go to work again                       

 

Well to day we have to get all of our furloughed and transfered men on board of the boat to start North. To morrow the discharged men have to go 

 

            When these men all leave it will be pretty easy times here nothing to do only to take care of the house. But in all of their examinations of men I could not get them to examine me, if I said anything about my going North they either passed right by or else gave some answer that was very discouraging But yesterday about 5 Oclock Dr Benedict came up to me and said that I should go home as soon as we got through with the sending of the other men off. he did not say whether on furlough or discharge but I think on a discharge but I shall take a furlough if I cannot get a discharge and then when I get home I think that I shall not come back to New Orleans very soon unless that I am very much mistaken for if I do not get a discharge I shall serve out the rest of my time in York State

 

            I cannot tell how soon I will get around but probably in 3 or 4 weeks at the fartherest But I am coming home and as soon as I ascertain about I will write to you

 

            Mr White will start for home in the first boat that goes up the river that he can go on. he was agoing to wait and come home with me but he got some news from home that has decided him to go home as soon as he can but he has promised to bring his wife out and make us a visit

 

            Dr Powers started for home last tuesday I am glad that he has gone a good many men have died here that might have gone home and got well but for him But as soon as he had the belly ache he must go right home 

 

            I send you in this another photograph of a young man he is from Ohio that is here in the Dispensary with me it is a very poor picture of him it looks as if he was but a young boy but he is about 21 years old and a first rate boy. I have another one or two to send you yet I am keeping Aunt Sallys untill the last for I like to take it out and look at it pretty often

 

            But I will wind up this now and write again soon

                                                                                               

Yours as Ever

L. V. Tucker

SOURCES