Athens, Alabama, Apr. 26, 1864.

50^th Illinois Hospital  

 

Dear Sister:

                        This beautiful morning I will write you a few lines that you may know how I am getting along. Well, then, I am glad to say that I am improving finely, although slowly. Until within the past two or three days I have been unable to sit up, but now I can do so for several minutes at a time. I am free from pain and feel quite smart. I am surprised however that I am so weak, for I did not realize it until I attempted to move. With care, I hope to be able to walk out and enjoy the delightful spring air in a few days. I sat for a while by the window yesterday and looked out upon the delightful sunshine and beautiful verdure that bedecked the trees, listening the while to the swet / sweet warbling of the feathered songsters, and enjoying the balmy morning air that came through the open window. It seemed very good to look thus upon smiling Nature once more, after being deprived of the sight for two weeks. Everything had made such progress too. I enjoyed it exceedingly.

 

            Every morning a Chaplain comes in and reads a chapter and prays with us. I enjoy it very much. God has blessed this sickness to me, dear sister. O, I enjoy his presence very much. He brought me very near death, but it has pleased him to restore me again, and I feel my whole heart full of thanksgiving for his wonderful blessings. He led me in a way that I knew not. I have had a remarkable religious experience that complicated itself with my disease. As soon as I get strong enough I will write a / good long letter and tell you about it. The Psalms seem very sweet to me now. The 116^th especially seems to have been written especially for me; it seems to perfectly describe my experience

 

            But I must not write any more now. I wrote to mother two or three days since and sent her a check for $50. I hope it arrived safely.

 

            I think perhaps you had better direct my letters to my Regiment at Decatur Ala., and if they get there before I am able to rejoin it, I can have William remail them to me here.

                                               

Your aff. Brother,

George.

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