1865

Marine U.S.A General Hospital New Orleans L'a April 26^th

 

Dear Wife

            I will write you a short letter to night in answer to one that I recieved from you to day written April 12^th (I wrote you one the same day) I was very glad to get it for I wanted to hear from home so bad and it had been near two weeks since I had a letter & then you were all sick but when I got this one & read it it made me feel so much better that I have not got over it yet

 

I am well as yet and hope that I may remain so as to your fears of my getting the small pox you need not give yourself any uneasiness about that for I am not among it at all unless accidentally and further than that it is nearly all done here now only an occasional case of it in the city now

 

            We heard of the surrender of Lee within a week after he done so, and of the Death of the President in four days. The rebel army at Mobile surrendered in a few days after Lee did his. Day before yesterday there was some Rebs that done a very bold and daring act here. They came out from the Red River some 200 miles above here with a small gun boat and run past all of our gun boats and batteries all of the way down and past all of our forts and gun boats here in the day time and nearly succeeded in getting out in to the Gulf before she was captured and then the crew all got off but two but have since been taken and are now prisoners here in the city It shows that they are getting desperate and are going to get away or else will have to give up soon and the sooner they do it the better it will be for all concerned

 

            Tell Lily that I cannot tell yet what kind of a pet I shall bring her yet Perhaps a nice mocking bird if I can get it when I come home We have one here now in the dispensary that sings nearly all day it is a nice one we shall have its mate here in a few days and then I expect that they will nearly deafen us with their noise. I would like to send you a box of orranges if I could but it is a good ways to send them and then they are very dear now ten cents apiece 

 

            Well Ma I think that I have some good news to tell you. I think that we shall get our pay to morrow for six month If we do I shall get between 130 and $140 and then in a few days I think that we will get two months more pay the first mail that goes North after I get mine shall shall bring it to you I will send part of it to you and a part to Mr Reynolds and perhaps both letters will come by the same mail. After I get what will be due me the first of May I think that I shall not take any more pay until my time is out and then take it all at once and have more of it for I shall get out in Aug if I do not before and I shall try hard to get out in June if I can. And then I shall come home and see Frank you may tell him so for me I wish that I was there with him now

 

            I have not heard from Mr White in over two months I have written to him but do not get any answer except that pamphlet that I sent Lilly

 

You must have got the box that I sent you by Steward Zumstein before this also the letter that had A. B. Coles photograph in

 

            I have had another offer of a commission in a coloured Regiment if I would except it but I hardly think that I want to go in for five years yet at present what do you think of it

 

            But I must stop writing for to night for it is getting pretty late

 

                        Write as often as you can

                                   

Give my respect to Mr Reynolds and

to Mr & Mrs Heath                

 

Is Seph Cookingham at home yet

 

From yours as Ever

L. V. Tucker

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