U. S. Arsenal

Hospt.              Washington. DC

Sept 10^th 1864.                                   

 

Dear Father Mother Sisters & Brothers I now take pen in hand at this late hower to acknowlage the receipt of your kind and welcomb letter I was hapy to hear that you wer all in good health and I am hapy to state that my health is good I have been sick with the bilious feaver but i have compleetly recovered now i was confined to my bead 4 days and was unable to write so you must excuse me for this delay then after the receipt of your letter i was so busy / i was unable to answer it untill now there is but very little nuse here there is a considerable talk of the comeing campaign the general opinion is that Abraham Lincoln will be the next President. there wer a great many here in the City six months ago that would have voted for Mclelland but are very strong against him the soldiers almost every one of them will vote for Lincoln. I was up to the sanitary Commition yesterday to get a lot of stuff for the sick such as wine dried apples lemons condensed milk and green tea Several other things crackers &c then i went to one of the stores in the city and got some chickens some potatoes. the sick are very well taken care of here / for a small hospital there is now seven in the Hospt now none of them are dangerous though at present. the major that is Maj J. G. Benton Commander of the Post has been away for a short time but has returned it was reported that he was to take General Ramseys place as Chiefe of ordinance but i think he will not except of it at present. The steamer Conn arived from City Point yesterday with sick and woundid soldiers the No i did not learn but i think there was several hundred the steamer John Brooks is now passing with the mail and a few passengers from City Point. there is a few steamers running all the while cariing freight to / and from here there is one loading now to go to Mass Harbor. their cargo is gun cariges for large forts. my Reg that i now belong to has gon some where i know not where my Co was taken a way from here last week and the report was that they wer going to Elmira New York but i was left behind the Doctor sayed he was going to keepe me here as it is late i will now close I remain as ever your loveing Sone & Brother

William A. Clark

 

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As my paper & envelops is running low i am obliged to send a white envelop

WAClark

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