McKims Mansion Hospital (1863

Baltimore Md Jan 22

                       

Dear Father

                        I now hasten to answer Martha's kind letter of the 19^th and one dated the 9^th which I also received and which contained my receipt all right I was much pleased to hear from home she wrote me a good long letter and I expect to get my box soon now as it must have been delayed on the road the same as the letter containing the receipt. About my foot Mr Riddle has been greatly mistaken I was much grieved at the account he gave you which must have caused you great sorrow. What I state now is the solemn truth that my wound is no gunshot wound at all I did not receive any bullet wound. My wound was simply a sort of a bruise. It was as I have stated before I was on the ground at the time and a shell exploded a few feet from me at the fence and knocked a splinter of the fence or something else and just struck the edge of my heel it took the skin and a very little flesh but it struck so forcibly that it seemed to hurt the joint as it swelled a great deal and was some time / and the cord above my heel pains me some when I travel a great deal on it I do not use a stick or crutch at all and never used a crutch and Mr Riddle must have been thinking of some other person when he gave you such an account I can walk straight enough but as I said before to walk a great deal on it causes the cord to pain me as it is a little lame I do not expect that they will give any furlough here but I think if I was at Alexandria at Camp Convalescent I could get one as it is represented to be an easy place to get a discharge Mr Riddle never saw my wound at all he must surely have been thinking of some other man I hope this will relieve you of any anxiety on my account. If I had received any such wound as he represented I should have let you know it In relation to that shot through my boot it was on my other foot it just merely cut a hole on the side of my boot but did not touch my foot I wrote Martha last sunday the 18^th which you probably have got by this time. I am glad that I have got my receipt. I went into town on tuesday and got my picture taken which I will put in this letter. It cost me fifty cts a pretty steep price as I suppose you can get such a one for / half that amount but they seem to be higher out here. I was intending to get a card photograph but they would not take them single I could have got a dozen for 3.00 or ½ doz for 1.50 or 1.00 for three they are about the size of this picture. I can get three or four if you wish. You spoke of sending me some money if you can spare it you might send me a little but do not rob your self as I have between 1 and 2 dols. I begin to like this place better than I did at first I get just all I want to eat and this is a healthier place and I gained since I have been here, as two or three remarked to me that I was picking up. You wished to know how long it would before I will have to go back I can stay here I think two or three months if I wish as they do not hurry the men off I believe I told you in one of my letters that I had written to Grandfather I wrote to him on the 5^th but have got no answer yet We have had a severe northeast rain storm with a high wind it commenced night before last and has not cleared off yet I went to both express offices when I was in town Adam's and Herndon's but my box had not come I expect it now in a few days. I did not write to the / express office at Washington as I did not till I got this receipt which one but I expect that it will be forwarded by the postmaster of the Campbell as I wrote to him and he forwarded this letter with the receipt in it I do not expect any pay here at this Hospital till March. I have delayed writing before as I was waiting to hear from Washington and from you. You wish me to write often I will do so although I think I have done pretty well since I have been in the Hospital I have written 16 letters since we came which was on the 17^th last month which averages about three a week 11 of these were for home I do not think these two men that are with me could have a box sent with mine as neither live in Manchester but I do not think of much more to write I will write a few lines to Charley My love to all

William

 

Dear Charles

                        I believe I have not written to you for some time I see by Martha's letter that you still work in the Mill how is it are all the mills running and is Wilson and Cook still there if so give them my respects and tell them to write how would you like to be in Baltimore Manchester is not near so large. I will send you this card you must write I will write again soon from your brother      William

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