McVeigh

May 21^st/64

 

Dear Parents

            I dont feel that I am doing my Duty towards you and the loved ones at home unless I write a few lines evry day I hope this will find you all well at home I am glad to say that my health is getting Better than it has been since I Came home from the West I am growing Fleshy evryday my work and food seems to agree with me here the food is Plain victuals no Pie or Cake no butter or anything that will be Injurious to health. Meat Potatoes Bread Molasses Applesauce and Coffee is about all we get and I am glad of it for I believe it is better for my health I have eaten to much rich victuals for my own good in the last years I sent Ann my Picture yesterday and you will see by my looks that I dont look much like a sick man now. it look very natural, it is the best one I ever had taken, being in the house all the time I am not taned any or freckled

 

            if I Can get good health I dont mind staying until the War is over. I am busy and find enough to do all the time but you know it is not like farming Mother you know what it is to nurse the sick I have four men sick abed in my Ward to wait on and give medicine. I have Considerable time to write and read We have good War News to day again Gen. Grant is moving again on Lee and has taken 300 Prisoners they all think here that this summer will finish the war the talk is there will soon be another Draft made if this is the Case a man might as well be in the Army as to be at home dreading the Draft, not know how soon he Will be forced away from home, and a Drafted Man stands a very Poor chance in the army as a soldier I tell you the old soldiers dislike them it is very warm here now as hot as Harvest in Mich. it is hot days but the Evenings are Pleasant and Cool the Roses and Pinas are in full Bloom the maple and the Locust are all leaved out I Can look from one of my Windows over across the Potomac into Maryland and see the Green Woods all leaved out Fort Woodberry, Where the Poor Boys used to be is seen away off in the Distance and the Capital at Washington is in Plain sight six miles off. how is the Spring in Mich. What time are you Planting your Corn I Suppose you are Working hard now to hard to get in your Spring Crops in Season I wrote Isiah a letter sometime ago but have not got an answer yet

 

Monday Morn. May 23^rd

            I Rec. anns letter of the eleventh this morning and was glad to hear you was all well I am Well as usual only a Bad headache this morning there is nothing new here this morning yesterday we had a terible thunderstorm here. I never saw it rain so hard in my life Ann says in her letter she wants my Picture I sent it the other day I hope she will get it safe. I dont want her to worry about me to much. I write very often so she will not be uneasy about me for it will not do for one in her situation give my Love to William and tell him to be a good Boy to the children Love to Eliza and all the folks that Enquire after me. Mother I should like to get one of your good letters again

 

            from one that thinks of you Both often your Son in law and Affectionate Son

                                                                                    Lyman A. Griffith

 

to his Father & Mother Jeremiah & Betsey Wilsey

 

Write

 

[Note at top of letter]

I send you all some Peices of Poetry

SOURCES