Finley Hospital Washington

D. C. Feb 18^th 1863

 

Dear Mother

 

I received your letter of the 13^th day before yesterday. I wrote one to Mary last sunday, giving some account of my sickness and journey to this place. You ask me if I have thought of all my friends here. That was one of my first thoughts. We have a good view of the Capitol from the hospital and I do not hardly ever look at it but I think of Mr & Mrs Warner. And then John Whitney I often think of him. I want to see him very much. I intend to write to him to-day or to-morrow and let him know where I am. I cannot imagine who you mean by the others who are keeping a provision store. Besides Miss Bacon here at the hospital there is a young man by the name of Marshall about my age from Pepperell. He is employed in the post office of the hospital. He knows George Adams and says he used to see me there. He says he is acquainted with Mary. He belongs to the 16^th Mass reg^t enlisted in the Groton company knows Charles Hardy, Joseph Rand, and Joseph Bowley. They are all in his company. He says Charles Hardy is at the convalescent camp in Alexandria. you know he was wounded at the second battle of Bull Run in the left shoulder. Marshall says he cannot use that arm and is going to have his discharge. Joseph Rand he says is in Philadelphia sick with the small pox. Then the Chaplain Rev W. W. Winchester is a Clinton man. He says he has exchanged with Mr Dodge

 

Now about my clothing Miss Bacon gave me a shirt pair of drawers and stockings, and I drew a pair of stockings a short time before I left the regiment so that I am pretty well supplied having three pairs of stockings two shirts two pair of drawers so that I do not know as I need any more just at present if I do I can draw it by getting an order from the doctor. As to my outside clothing I guess it looks well enough as I have drawn a new pair of pants and a blouse since I within five or six weeks I did not get my pants however before I needed them as it was not soon after our arrival at Fredricksburg and the supplies of clothing had not got up. As to your sending me a box I would say that I think it would be full as well for my health to live on the hospital food as to have Although I am thankful very grateful to you for your kind offer. My regiment has gone south you say. Do you know how far south? The newspaper said part of the ninth Army Corps had gone south probably to North Carolina. I do not know how the boys will like it but I am inclined to think it will be agreeable to them. I wish I was able to go with them. I should like the idea. As to my health I judge by your letter that you imagine I am worse than what I am. you want to know if I am able to go out doors. I walk out every day when the weather is suitable. /

 

            I hope you will feel quite encouraged when I tell you that day before yesterday I got a certificate from the doctor to draw my pay and walked down to the city and back again to the paymasters office. I got my pay and got back to the hospital safely. The distance is nearly three miles I should think. Except feeling somewhat tired and the next day pretty much as I used to after going to "election" with Charley Hardy and the rest of the boys when I was "a little shaver" I do not know as I am any the worse for it I feel better for exercising some than I do to lay still. I only got paid up to the first of November. As I received one months pay in advance when I was mustered in at Worcester I only received twenty one dollars and twenty three cents. That pays me up for every days work since I enlisted to the first of november and according to my reckoning two cents more. About sending any of it home to you, I feel as though I ought to send some of it as it is hard times. I do not get as much as I expected although I could see by the pay roll that I got as much as the others. If father is willing I should like to keep the money till I know what they are going to do with me. I expect to be sent to my regiment as soon as I get well enough. I do not know how long it takes to get ones strength up after having a fever but if I get along as fast as I have done I should think I might be able to go back to the regiment in three or four weeks at the least calculation. Therefore I do not think it would pay for me to try get a furlough. Probably I could not get more than thirty days if I could get one at all. If I thought I was going to be sick two or three months I should like to come home and but if nothing happens I think I shall get along now.

 

Joseph Haskell and the rest of the boys in my tent were very kind to me and did what they could to make me comfortable while I was with them.

 

As to sending me papers if you are a mind to send me the Recorder I should like it. Miss Bacon has the Boston Semi- Weekly Journal and she very kindly offered me the reading of it so that is one of our home papers. I will send father a copy of the Washington daily Chronicle with this letter. I thought perhaps it would be interesting to him and the rest of you. I believe Col Forney is one of the editors.

 

We had quite a snow-storm here yesterday. The snow is about five inches deep it is more snow than I have seen before this winter. It seems like home to see the ground covered with snow. I do not know as I have any thing more to write at this time so I will close my letter.

                                                                       

From your son

E. W. Stacy.

SOURCES