George S. Palmer to Elliot Palmer and Florilla S. Palmer, 29 August 1863
Washington Aug 29th 1863
Dear Parents
I have just recd yours of the 26th and hasten to answer it I am sorry to hear of Mothers ilness also to hear that Frank had been sick my health is some better although I am as yet in the hands of the doctor of our ward I have done some verry light duty such as writing out the diet for the sick at no time since the opening of the hospital have we had so many that could not go out to their meals we have to fetch grub in for 20 men while there are only 30 in our ward when the ward is full we have 61 men in it two will not live a great while we had one hundred come the other day and 75 more last night they are mostly Cavalry I wish you could get my brest pin that Minnie Goslee has got and send it on to me for I want it Surgeon Baxter is expected back to morrow Surgeon Kelly has filled his place while he has been gone home I was down town the other day and heard some one say there goes Palmer on turning / to see who it was I was surprised to see Sam Sutton the one that use to go with Jack Charles he went out with the 8th NJ Regiment and has risen from private to Captain he has resigned left the regiment at Warrenton Va on Tuesday he is home now I was verry glad to see him we expect to hear of the fall of Charleston last night Star said the Union flag waved over fort Sumter but this morning it didnt according to the Chronicle I dont know any thing about it where the man lived that took away Beckwiths straw I dont hear from L but I tell L that he owes me a letter and he must answer it he told Billy Adams that I had gone to my regiment maybe he thinks I have I some think I may try to go to my regiment as soon as it is cold weather I have been in ward nine longer than any that are here at the present time I think a change might do me good I dont like the idea of taking care of the patients that have the typhoid fever we have a good many cases of it the Army is on a stand still waiting for conscrips they dont seem to come on verry fast now I hope that when spring comes we may be able to have peace I think the next Congress bids fair to settle it as the Conservatives have a majority of four in the house I am sick of the war let some of the Abolitionists of the north and the southern fire eaters look in our hospitals and over the land and I think we would have peace that would do justice to both sides there have been two verry large Catholic picnics in a grove joining the hospital I believe that the whole city is Catholic it seems as if it was I will close by wishing to be remembered to all.
Your affectionate Son George
I am much obliged to father for his letter
12320
DATABASE CONTENT
(12320) | DL1787.008 | 187 | Letters | 1863-08-29 |
Tags: Abolitionists, Cavalry, Conscription/Conscripts, Duty, Home, Hospitals, Illnesses, Newspapers, Peace, Promotions, Resignations, Weather
People - Records: 3
- (4429) [recipient] ~ Palmer, Elliot
- (4430) [writer] ~ Palmer, George S.
- (4441) [recipient] ~ Palmer, Florilla S. ~ Sumner, Florilla
Places - Records: 1
SOURCES
George S. Palmer to Elliot Palmer and Florilla S. Palmer, 29 August 1863, DL1787.008, Nau Collection