U. S. Arsenal Hospt               

Washington DC         

Feb 9^th 1865

 

Dear Father Mother Sisters & Brothers

I now at this late hower take pen in hand to write you a few lines to acknowlage your kind letter i was hapy to hear from you all and more so to hear that you wer all enjoying good health and i am also hapy to say my health is as good as usual if not better i feal strong and harty the most of the time and have a very strong appetite for fresh beef and vegatables but pork or bacon i can eat but very little for it makes me sick once in a while Pheebe sends me a little money then i get a little butter but it is played out for they charge 75 cts and 80 cts for butter here and i cannot stand that for I have not had any pay since last June so you can judge how mutch money i have on hand not enough to be afraid of going to the City for pick pockets would be ashamed to try my pockets for money like a dandy fide young fellow the other day was in the City with small cards on his pockets (To Let) he was asked what that men his answer was that they were empty 

 

By the way I was up to the City yesterday I went to the Capitol to sea the Electorial vote cast for President & Vice President, for the comeing fore years Commencing on the fourth of March 1865 and ending March forth 1869. The Senators asembled in the House of Representatives at one Oclock they marched in by twos headed by Hanable Hamlin now Vice Presadent and at 1 Oclock the house was called to order then the Vice President broke the seals and open each vote or rather each State and handed them to one of the Senators at the same time calling the name of the State commencing with the State of Mane and ending with the State of Arizona then after they wer read seperately the whol vote was declaired the whol Nomber was 233 votes of which Abraham Lincoln of Illanois received 212 also Andrew Johnson of Tenesee received 212, And George B. McClelan of New Jersey rec 21 and George H Pendleton of Ohio rec 21 as you will sea by the vote that is here stated, Abe & Andy drives the team for the next fore years if their lives are spared. after the vote was declared there was great aplaus from nearly all. The house was densely packed with all sext / and classes besides hundreds that could not get within hearing distance I went at 12M. and managed to get a very good place at 2 P.M. after the Senate or rather the members of the Senate ajorned to their apartment i left and took the F & H Street cars and went to the State Agents there I received some religious tracts papers and almanacs for 1865 after a brief conversation i left for home taking the 7 S^t cars arived home at about 4 Oclock well satisfied with my days jorney. The weather here is pretty severe just now old people say this is the hardest winter here they ever saw Tuesday it begun to snow and kept on untill 4 in the after noon then rain set in there was about 4 inches of snow fell at seven at night the rain turned to hail and soon after stoped and yesterday it was very pleasent but very bad traveling today is cold and the ancor ice in the river nearly stops the boats from running but the season is short here now for snow or ice for in a very short time it will be so warm you can hardly breath without swetting and then is the time when mosketoes bed bugs and cock roaches will whistle at you night and day. There is but little war nuse at present the opinion is here that the whole armie is about / to moove and as soon as the weather get a little warmer you can look for nuse any amount of it. The late visit of the President and Secratary Stanton with the Reble Commitioners has prooved no avail the South will hear to nothing but recognition to be a seperate Government and now you can expect fighting soon. In this City they are paying $1,000 Bounty for 3 years $600 for 2 years and $450 for one year and i think they have their quota near filled in some Wards they are defitient but as a jeneral thing they are nearly clear of the Draft. As it is now near 8 Oclock i will close for this time leaveing you all in the care of God who doeth all things well.

 

my love and best wishes to all.

           

I remain as ever your loveing Sone and Brother

Good Night.

 

William A Clark.

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