New Berne  Nov 15^th 64

 

Dear Sarah      Yesterday we rec’d letters mailed as late as the 7^th & by them I see you have not recd my letters containing the particulars of Charleys sickness which ought to have been in Bern two weeks ago. Tis cruel to have such delays in such times as these but the regulations are very stringent with infected districts. mails & stores could come here, but nothing could be sent away except occasionally a mail, or a few letters smuggled in with Quarter Masters dispatches. I suppose the ban is off now, as prisoners with guard were sent to the Fortress yesterday, the first that has been from our Regt for many weeks. It being uncertain whether many of my letters ever get to you & more particularly the one most wanted at Bern, I will write out from my/ memoranda such particulars as I have, as there is a mail to go tomorrow direct to NY—.& if they get the other, this will do no harm.—A few days after he returned from his trip to the Fortress (when the Town was captured) he had the regular symptoms & some fever, but twas easily broken & he went on duty, being detailed to drill recruits. On or about the 26^th Sept I noticed his eyes had the “fever look” & run no risks as the fever was making ad hoc all about us. he kept about untill Wednesday the 28 of Sept on coming in from drill threw off his equipments & laid down saying my head aches & Im tired. he seemed to be in a quiet doze. Sometime in the afternoon I got him some dry toast & tea of which he took but little. his tongue looked bad so I thot best to report his case to the Dr & got him some medicine—/

 

During the night he was quite restless & made such noises, I struck a light & laid my hand on his forehead when he waked & said “How cool your hand is.” said he was no worse but was dreaming of his Fort’s trip & would like some water. In the morning he went with the rest of the ailing ones to the Dr. Medicine operated but brot no relief, head back & bones ached, as we all have ached at times this summer. He would walk about a little, but most of the time laid in a sort of stupor, wanting nothing but water & ice, of which he could have all he wished. On the second or third day he commenced vomiting & could keep nothing down, medicine & all as he expressed it “belch out without any feeling of sickness at the stomach”—

 

It seemed painful to make a mental effort & only spoke when questioned & make his wants known as briefly as/ possible. On Sunday he said “Im sick & getting weaker every day. Im glad the folks at home dont know what a fix we’re in” Monday morning he was the same. I was on duty & did not get back til near noon Tues & he had changed greatly for the worse & was as yellow as could be. had been carried over to the hospital during by absence.

 

When he felt my hand on his head, he looked up & around on the other cots & said “what a commotion twil make up north when they know of all this.” then told me “if there’s any letters, read them & tell me if there’s anything I want to know & dispose of them”. the effort to talk was painful & he appeared some deaf, after speaking a little his mind would seem to go under & he would sink into his usual lethargy. He held out surprisingly & on Friday appeared better, at first sight. asked me to wash his handkerchief. laid his hand on my shoulder & said “the “I’ve got permission of the Dr to go over to the quarters, do you think I’d better go?/ I told him he was getting better care than he could have in the quarters & he appeared perfectly satisfied—

 

During his whole sickness he never asked for a thing he could not have, nor made a single complaint, but was patient & quiet throug all—On Saturday seemed worse & one of the nurses tho’t him dying. I stood by his side some time before he seemed to recognize me. he then gave me his hand. that was the last time I saw him, when he seemed conscious of my presence. He would say “ice seldom anything else. Saturday night & Sunday he appeared to be in much pain tho for most of the time unconscious. the disease & his strong hold on life were having their last struggle. He died Sunday night or rather Monday morn about 1 o’clock & was buried between 8 & 9 the same day Oct 10^th. During the day 3 more died. all our men were buried with military form except/ volleys, which annoyed the sick in the hospitals in town. Our Regt has some 70 odd graves nearby all by yellow fever altho’ some are recorded as died of other diseases. All officers & men had plain pine coffins & all are in rows & numbered on a chart, perhaps after a time permission could be got for the removal of his remains, at present I do not think any influence could be brought to bear upon the officers in command—

 

His things I shall send as soon as I can get a permit, which must pass through 3 different officers hands. The watch I shall send by itself, the other things in a box—not even a well man could leave here until yesterday not anything could go. the Town looked & in fact was deserted. The fever has not entirely disappeared we lost one man last week but hope that may be the last—

I close this in haste or loose the chance to send it. if you get this send it to Bern—unless they forward the others—

 

[front margin] I will write you again by the next mail

                                                            Love to all

                                                                        P J Allen

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