Marine U.S.A General Hospital N Orleans La July 14^th 1864

 

Dear Wife

                                                I have been neglecting all the week to write to you. but to night I will try and write a little

 

            The reasons of my putting of writing was that I was expecting to be paid & then I could send you some money but the Paymaster has not come yet and there is a prospect now that we shall not get our pay until another Pay day comes around. I do not know the reason why we cannot be paid as well as any others the hospital was paid to day but the Veteran Reserve Corps cannot be paid yet they are of no consequence so far as pay is concerned But if there is any hard work to do they are the ones that have it to do

 

            Another reason of my not writing was that I was in hopes of getting a letter from you. it has been now almost three weeks since I have heard from home and it seem as if it was three months since, but I am in hopes that I shall get one before long again

 

I presume one reason is because of the sinking of the steamer with the last weeks mail at least that is the report here now.

 

            Our Regiment left here last week on an other expedition but where to I do not know. they went on board of a vessel here and sailed down the river toward the Gulf it is rumored that they have gone to join Grant but I think that that is doubtfull. I think they have gone to Mobile or Florida 

 

            We are still having very hot weather here so much so that I stay inside during the day only when I am obliged to go out for something

 

            I presume that you have not got the box yet that I sent you although it had ought to have gone through by this time. it went to the Express office the 29^th of last month but perhaps it did not leave right off I sent it to you in care of T. F. Horton and I paid the freight on it to Newark. I hope that it will go home all right for the box and contents is worth at least fifty dollars although they are all small articles and do not show much

 

            I wrote a letter to Frank last week and did not send any to you and perhaps the next one after this I shall write to Lilly

 

            George & Nat Cook were well a few days ago. I heard of them when the regiment started away from here. J. H. Miller health was not very good he was very poor and looked as if he had better go to bed than on a march

 

            Josephus Cookingham is some where here in the city among the hospitals but I cannot tell which one Silas Burroughs is back with the Regiment and looks well again

 

            But I must stop for this time for it is about mail time

 

Write as soon as often as you can

 

                        Yours as Ever L. V. Tucker

 

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I send you in this a photograph of Dr Parker he is from Philladelphia

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