U. S. Arsenal

Hospital                     

Washington DC

June 21^st 1864   

                                                         

Dear Parents Sisters & Brothers I now at this late hower take pen in hand to write a few lines to let you know how and where i am i am now acting as nurse in the post hospital in the Arsenal i have been hear now six days my health is a bout the same as usual there was a very sad accident here a few days ago the foreman in charge of the room where they make cartrages was making some signals / for the armie called stars and had them on copper pans and while standing in the sun by the side of the building they caught on fire and commenced going off and some flew into the building and there being near 5 barrels of loos powder it caught on fire and in a moment the building was in flames and in five minits the building was tore to pieces the number of ladies employed in this build when all there was 160 but on this day there was only about 125 there and out of that number there was 19 burned alive and about 20 woundid some so severe that death soon releaved them of their suffering. there was seven i think / that had their wounds dressed here out of the seven 4 are now dead and one or two more i think will die but we cannot say some persons will go through a great deal and others will stand but very little there is but one left in this Hospital this one is a cleark in the building that was explodid and is very badly burned his hands and also his head and face are a solid blister his head has been swolen very bad but is now better as it is late and this man has called for me to come and stay with him i will close with love and best wishes to all i will now close write as / soon as you can and give me all the nuse there was sent yesterday to General Grants & Butlers armies 12 hundred cases of shot and shell. today they have an order to send 7 000 000 rounds of small ammunition for muskets and rifel. it is all on board of steamers and by 12 Oclock tomorrow it will be ready for the army to use if nothing happens.

 

9 oclock and i will bid you all good night and subscribe my selfe your loveing Sone

William A Clark

 

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U.S. Arsenal Hospital

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                        D.C.

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