McKims Mansion Hospital

Baltimore Md Jan 16, 1863

           

Dear Father

            I have delayed writing since last saturday when I wrote you which you probably have received by this time and I have been waiting for a letter from you I have received none since a week ago wednesday the day before we left Washington I also wrote you one on that day. You wrote in your letter of the 4^th that you would send some papers on the following day and would write on tuesday I have not received them yet although I have written to the postmaster of the Campbell to for- / my letters that might come to that place. I presume that Evie and Frank Guilford have received the letters that I wrote I have not received my box yet I wrote the postmaster of the Campbell Hospital to forward it and to drop me a line when he did so. It must have arrived at Washington by this time My foot is some lame yet. I can travel around pretty well but to travel a great deal on it makes it pain some. I get plenty to eat here such as it is but but there is not so much pains taken with the food here as at Washington the bread is not so good and we do not get such a variety but we get a good dinner on wednesdays which the ladies in / part furnish last wednesday we had bread potatoes meat applesauce apple butter honey preserve and a sort of catsup and apples. We are now having dull cloudy weather last night it rained considerable I have not asked for a pass yet to go into town and get my picture yet as I was waiting to hear from you and from my box but I will go down I think on the first of the week I have quite a desire to see a little of the place. The buildings are composed almost wholly of brick or stone at least what can be seen of it from this place and we can see a great portion of it We have not got paid yet we were mustered in at Washington but it is reported / that we are not to paid here untill March. I suppose you have got your allotment money on my first payment There is considerable attention paid here to our religious welfare services are held by the chaplain on sundays in the dining hall or grub room and a German meeting on tuesdays and there is a library here which the books are mostly of a religious character and ladies visit once in a while with tracts and there are plenty of testaments piled on the table I suppose that your foot is well by this time has Sumner got rid of his whopping cough yet I hope you are all enjoying good health I suppose you are having your January thaw about this time but I will now write a few lines to Albert write soon from

                                    William.

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