Patterson Park Hospital          Aug 13^th/64

Kind Friend

 

                                                                                                                        With pleasure

I sit down to let you know I am alive and getting better but quite week yet. I scribled A few lines to you the last of July. I wrote in that I was sick and had been for some time. I have been sun struck since and can not go out in the middle of the day yet. we started from New Orleans the 5^th of July arived at Washington the 19^th and at night started after the Rebs who had come into Md and attempted to take the Capitol we chased them across the Shenadoah River then we/returned back to chain Bridge near Alexandria we staid their two days then we started for Harpers ferey the second day I got sun struck and have been in the hospital. I am quite run down with a common desease in the armey. but am so I walk out a little night and morning I hope these few lines will find you well and enjoying yourself. our armey is doing as well as could be expected the report here now is that Mobile will soon be ours also Atlanta & Petersburg. our armey Corps, the 6^th, 9^th & 2^d with 3 Divisions of cavelry have gone up the Shenadoah Valley and it is expected they will reinforce Gen Sherman at Atlanta. I have written two letters since I sent you my picture (it looked so I was A good mind not to send it but I had no time to get shaved or set again if you get it you need not think I intended to impose upon you but be patient and when I get well and have an opportunity I will get another and send it to you) I received a letter from you the 25^th of July. but you had not got the last two letters I had wrote I supose there is two if not more letters from you at the Reg^t but I have got a particular friend who will save them for me untill I get back to the C^o. you may address as before for by the time I get the answer I probly will be with the Reg^t. my hand troubles so I will not try to write any more receive my respects & best wishes

 

I am your true friend

                        Stephen A. Matthews

I forgot to say that the Hospital I am in is in Baltimore M^d.

SOURCES