Charlestown, August 29^th/65

                                   

Jack:

           I was glad to hear that Sis was able to be about again. I was somewhat uneasy about her, but as you did not write I knew she must be improveing.

 

            I judge Brainerd is getting into quite a practice now as there is so much sickness. I have not heard of so much sickness since I left home. I do not hear of much here. Since I last wrote you though I have attended the funeral of one of the men belonging to the barracks. He died of consumption and was only in the / Naval Hospital in Chelsea but a few days when he died. His alias was W. H. Fenton and his people live in Canada; no one belonging to him was there. He was burried, with military honors in a burrying ground just back of the hospital.

 

            It was the first time I was in the Hos, & I was much pleased with the appearance of it. It is a large four story granite building; the three upper floors forming three wards. Only one ward is used at presant and it is not crowded. An Ast. Surgeon of the Navy has charge and the building is kept in order and the sick attended to by five female nurses. Every accommodation is there that is required they have: hot & cold baths, which is supplyed by an engine which also furnishes the heaters with steam. It has a very healthy and pleasant situation on the / banks of the harbor.

 

            Jack, it was a very good excuse you gave for not writing I know your duties are very confining, any way the news you gave me deserves my thanks. Every thing is going on in the same "Gay & Happy" style here. I am just on the "Qui vive" to know whether I am going to sea again or not, two or three M. will settle my fate, I think. There are two or three vessels repairing and will in a short time go some where & I have my chances to go on one of them although it is not in the least certain, at all events I have handed in my name to go. The "Powhatan" which is one of the vessels repairing here, I see in the Army & Navy Journal is going to the So. Pcf. Squadron which I hear is a very good and pleasant one to be on. 

 

Well Jack, I am going out in the city this afternoon, have just finished my dinner and I think before going out it would be advisable to take a nap, so I will pipe down.

 

Charley.

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