1865

Marine U.S.A Gen. Hospital New Orleans L'a April 12^th

 

Dear Wife

            I will write you a short letter to night although it has been but a few days since I wrote to you and I have but little to write as I feel pretty tired to night

 

            But as there was a mail to start north to morrow I thought I would write a little so that you might know how I was getting along. I am as well as usual but have to work pretty hard now for a spell but do not think that it will continue so a great while

 

            I hope that before this reaches you that you and the children will be well again and enjoying yourself better than you have for some time past for I know that you must have had a pretty hard time since they have been sick all alone and the cold winter weather. Oh how I should like to have been at home with you so that I might have helped you take care of them for you must have had your hands full and no one to help you. But I hope that I shall be with you before long for I am going to try to get discharged by the first of June if it is possible for me to get it and I think there is a prospect that as soon as our army gets through at Mobile that there will be a good many discharged here and I mean to be one of them if I can. it is not as hard work to get a discharge now as it was a year and a half ago for now there is a prospect that the war will close and they are not so particular as they used to be 

 

            I sent you a small box last week from here or rather sent it to Mr Reynolds for you

 

I sent you a letter the same day telling you about it and last night I wrote a good long letter to Mr Reynolds & told him how I came to send it as I did I have also written to Mr Heath since I wrote to you this will make four letters within a week that I have written So you see that I do not fool away all of my time and not write any

 

            I got a letter from Jo Rush a few days since he says that the boys are all well and are enjoying themselves pretty well

 

            I send you in this a photograph of A. B. Cole he is the man that that I was telling you of when I was home that expected to marry here Well he has not married yet but I will explain why when I come home as it would take to long now

 

            I have the promise of several more pictures as soon as we get paid so that we can get them taken. We can get them taken here now for a dollar and a half a dozen

 

            have you got those two letters yet that were done when you wrote last one of them had a little money in $2 only but then it would help you some if you get it

 

But I will stop for this time

 

Write often      To yours as Ever

L. V. Tucker

 

[side margin]              I have sent you several papers lately have you got them

                                    I mailed you two this morning

 

[front side margin]

 

I send you this in a printed envelope Some of my own work I set up the type and printed them myself

SOURCES