St Louis Hosp N.O. May 18^th 1864

 

Dear Father

                        Yesterday the mail steamer arrived and to-day I received two letter one from Mother and the other from you. I am very glad to see that you are well. as I am at this time and weigh more than I have done since I was born. one hundred and forty-five pounds being my present weight. I suppose you were not posted as to where I was. and that was the reason why you did not write before. the reason my leg does not heal up is that there is a piece of dead bone in there which the Dr felt of when he examined me last Friday he said there was only a small piece in and as soon as that comes out my leg will get well. I think it is working out now. but it does not trouble me in the least you would not know as ever I was hurt in the leg. I have not got much longer to serve at the longest only six months after this month and that will soon pass off. I wonder how you feel home-sick going home every two or three weeks. I wonder how you would do for the Army of Uncle Sam. but never mind that I hope to be out of his army pretty soon. and then I shall be a citizen like yourself. I see by the paper that the deficiency of the Call by the President is going to filled up by a draft. I hope you will not be drafted sooner pay a few hundred dollars than have to serve three years. I know what soldiering is. I am glad Mother wont let you come back to LNM to work if I was you I would not. when I look at the wages you are getting and my wages, it look small but it is better than English Soldiers get but what they get I suppose is almost equal to ours in value. I wouldnt please Old Amos Paul as to come back to work for him. you know what he used to do to you and I would not please so much as to let him have the chance again. I wish I could say I expected to go home next Saturday as you do. Mother’s letters say there are all well and I am glad to hear it, I am glad Mother likes her new Stove. About Gen Banks the news is not very encouraging the last report was that he had retreated to Semmes Port towards the river, Miss. by the papers it seems that our folks have met with the loss of two or three Gun Boats an three or four transports in Red River. and other losses heavy in prisoners and ammunition. It is just as they say about him that on the Army of the Potomac he was the rebels Quarter Master and so he has been here. But Gen Grant is the one that is going to do the work already he is doing wonderfully. but it costs and will cost a great number of valuable live to conquer them. but it is better to have it done at once and not keep having sham battles and killing the poor fellows for nothing and it takes squint-eyed Butler to cut off communcations from Richmond dont it. Old Ben is doing well and if ever he does get into Richmond then look out confed’s for if ever he claps those eyes on one look out. I see my paper is getting short so I must close give my love to all enquiring friends and take a large share to yourself

 

                                                            I remain

                                                                        your affect Son

                                                                                    Reuben Haworth

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