Campbell Hospital (1863

Washington D.C. Jan 7

 

Dear Father

            I received your's and Martha's kind letter this afternoon and was pleased to hear from home. I wrote the 31^st which you received I have delayed writing as I was waiting to see if we were to get a furlough. Our doctor of this ward came and enquired who wished a furlough and I sent in my name with a lot of others and I do not know but I shall get one. but to day he was around enquiring who wished to go to Baltimore tomorrow morning there was but 3 or 4 gave their names to go as they / most of them preferred going home. So I think it is pretty certain that I shall either go home or to Baltimore I hope it will be home. From this I should judge there is is to be more fighting soon on the Rappahannock as they seem to want to clear these hospitals. I expect we will be sent to Baltimore or home this week. I received the fine comb and stamps you sent. You you can start the box to day (wednesday). I suppose you will get the receipt and send by the time the box gets here. And if I am still here I can send our postmaster after it as he gets the boxes for the men in the hospital. And if I am sent to Baltimore I can have it sent to me /

 

I am getting along well my heel is almost well although I am not very strong I went down town to day on a pass partly for exercise if I had waited a few minutes later I might have got this letter before I went down, and I could have gone and got my housewife. but I can get the Post M'str to get it. You wish me to get my picture taken I have been thinking of doing so. To day is quite cold but clear yesterday was rainy we have been having delightful weather. I see by the papers that Rosecrans is driving the Rebs. I received those two papers you sent one with a letter in it written by Wm. Fish It is not composed so well as most letters in / print I received Martha's and Albert's letter on saturday with Alberts picture.

 

            Our Doctor (Lemon by name) has just been in and selected a lot of us who are able to send to Baltimore tomorrow morning so now I am off for Baltimore which makes it a little nearer home. The letters that come to this hospital will be forewarded to us This will delay me in getting my box but I can write I suppose and have it forewarded to me at

 

We are expecting some more money from Uncle Sam our muster rolls have been made out but it may be nearly a month before we get it. I have 4.00 left I lent 1.00 receiving a good blouse as security. do not write again till you hear from me I will soon and let you know where I am I was sorry to hear that Sumner has the whooping cough I hope that he is better

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