Patterson Park Hos^p

                                                                                    Sep^t 26^th/64

 

                        Absent Friend

                                                Again I set down to write you a few lines to let you know I am in the land of the living. you must excuse me for writeing the second letter without receiveing an answer. I dont wish to be a burther to you So I will not trouble you with a long epistle this time. thare is so many accidents on the railroads & water. I am not sure as you received my last letter or if you did and answered/it it has been lost or misscarried for I have written one letter before this and received no answer. I wrote to Hattie a few days after yours and no answer has come yet I know you will excuse me and will not think me ungentlemanly for writeing you this for you have shown so much respect towards me in all of your letters. I will make no more excuses this time.

 

now for the news. I am to work here at the Hos^p now in charge of the dineing room I have to set the table for 560 at presant (considerable a large family to look after) I am busy from morning untill night you may think I intend to stay at Hos^p the most of my time this/being the second time I have been on detail at Hosp^s but the D^r says I must not go out in the sun this fall if I want to be worth any thing for outdoors in the future (I believe I mentioned in my last letter that I was sun Stroke the 26^th of July) on these grounds I think I am excuseible for not being at the front with my Comrads it is not because I am a Coward no. no! I have been in to many engagements to be put down for a coward now. I am expecting to go home on furlough the last of next month to vote at Election it will be a great pleasure to me to have the chance of visiting home once more and seeing my old Parents. I expect to have a good time wish you could be thare to enjoy a/visit with a Soldier. as it can not be so I will be content untill time and circumstances will permit. then with your pleasure I will make you a visit. do not think me to forward in writeing what I have. I do not wish to write any thing that will displease you.

 

I have extended this letter farther than I intended when I began. it is quite warm here now and good weather for the moveing of our armey Gen Sheridan has whiped the Rebs badly in the Shanadoah Valley. the loss of the rebs must be 12,000 ours about 4,500. write as soon as this is received Good By

 

Except this as a token of friendship & respect

From your humble corispondant. S. A. Matthews

 

Direct, Patterson Park Hos^p Bar 75.

                        Baltimore M^d

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