Suffolk Va May 15^th

 

            Dear Wife I read yours of the 12^th to night and was glad to hear you was well for it is more than I can say for my self I have got the Chrinkc Diarhia or Blood Disentary and I feel prety slim. The forces here in Suffolk have all gone out towards the black water. They went out day before yesterday with three days rations and they have sent in for 3 days more rations. Our Regt went out, they are tearing up one railroad to fix another with [?] I expect. They will have a bloody time before they get back again. Six ambulances just came in loaded with dead and wounded. 2 conscript Regts went out skirmishing and they fired upon each other. They were not killed by the Rebs. There is nothing new going on here for me to write about. I wish that they would let me have a furlough. I believe it would help my disentary. It is brought on by the army rations but if they won’t they wont and that is the end of it but I don’t care whether they do or no. I shall be at home before the summer is out. This shot I have got is a going to make a cripple of me so as to [?] me for military duty but I can work in the shop. It cut of the cords of my leg and took the small bone. You need not let any body but ma & pa & [?] & Sylvia see this. I don’t want the young ones to hear it for they will spread it all over the neighborhood. You must keep up good courage and do the best you can and help Pa weed out his garden. Give my love to all the folks. I shall have to close for this time for the mail man has come around. Write often and tell all the news.

 

                                                                                                Yours

                                                                                                R. D. Slayton

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