Marine U.S.A Gen Hospital N. Orleans La Feby 3^d/65

 

            Dear Wife

                                    Yours of Jan 17^th I recd last Monday and I tell you I was glad to get it although it made me feel bad when I read it to know how you was suffering for thing at home when I have so much due me from the Government and cannot get it. It makes my heart ache to think of it If I was only with you I could probably make things a little more comfortable with what I could earn at work. I trust that this will be the last winter from home & family a little over 6 months and then I shall be a free man again and will then try to work for a man that will pay oftener than once in 8 or ten months. I think it perfectly abusive that the soldiers should have to wait so long for what is their just due when there is money enough to pay them all off / we were to be paid three weeks ago but the paymaster has got the money and is using it himself for to speculate with while soldiers & their families are suffering for the want of it. By this means the government looses more men than all of the shoulder straps of that kind are worth. The worst that I wish them is that they had to do with out money for the next 5 years not be able to get one cent they would then realize what it was for others to speculate at their expense There is men here that have been discharged for a long time that cannot go home because they cannot get their pay. I have become disgusted with the whole concern to see the knavery that is used among the officers as a general thing they are the most low lived drunken set of men that I ever saw no more character than a dog such is men employed by the government 

 

            My health still continues good I have gained 13 pounds since I came back here and if I only knew that you was comfortably situated I could enjoy myself as well as could be expected but now I have to think of your suffering at home and then to think that folks at home should try to make it more so but I will try and be even with them when I get home if I can I want you to send this paper to A. O. Lamoreax that I put in this letter. he only charged 25 cents for drawing that coal and I want the pleasure of dunning him for the other 25 cents

 

            Know not how to express myself for the kindness of Mr Cook & family but I hope that if I cannot pay him that he will not be without his reward Give him my best respects. I had intended to have written to him this week but I have been so busy that I could not / I had also intended to have written to Mr Reynolds but for the same cause have not but will soon

 

            I wrote to Mr White two weeks ago and did not forget to mention you in the letter

 

            I should like very much to have seen George Cook was he well I can imagine the feelings of M Cook when he came home he is so tender hearted

 

            I have tried to get the money to send you to pay Mrs French but there is no money here it has been so long since there has been any pay

 

            But I must stop I will write again soon

                                                           

Yours as Ever

L. V. Tucker

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