Picayune Cottom Press N. O.

Vetrans Reserve Corps

June 10^th, 1864

 

Dear Mother

            The last time I wrote you it was from the St Louis Hospital but you will see by the heading above that I am no longer in that place but in the V.R.C. or Invalid Corps. The Drs concluded not to discharge me as I had a few days to serve over six months. I have hinted to you before that my discharge was signed by the Lieut, but I have found out since that I was not discharged. only for the Invalid Corps. my Regt. left here March 2^nd and myself with about forty other were sent to the Hosp. The next day after we were admitted I was examined by the Medical Inspector and ordered to be discharged which in all probability I should have been if I had had my Descriptive List. The Drs appeared to be in a hurry to get them. but after they did get them and had us in there power they did as they pleased with us. But I am content to be where I am and then I can have the honor to say that I served my three years for my country. But people will say you were half your time in the Hosp but I can tell them I had to go where I was sent. and if they can do any better let them enlist under the same circumstances and the same bounty and see what they will do. I dont believe they would do much more. Yesterday two years and a half ago I enlisted. The 14^th of this month a year ago I was wounded. Yesterday I took a small piece of bone out of my leg that had worked to the outside, which makes about a hundred I have taken and had taken out, but I am first-rate with it. and it dont trouble me in the least, so I had just as leave serve this other six months as not. You must not worry about me as soon as this battalion is organized we are coming north to do garrison duty either at Washington or New York. if it was not for that I should prefer to do duty in my own Regt. I am informed by the Lieut in command that we may go north in about a month or so. I am glad I am not in the Hosp for several reasons. First, we have a better chance for fresh, healthy air, 2^nd that there is no guard to stop a man from going out when he likes, if he only behaves himself. The victuals are not so rarified here as they were in the the Hosp but I can bring myself down to it and I can get along firstrate. I like camp life and it agrees with me. I shall have to reserve the other part of this paper to the letter I expect from you that came by Morning Star.

 

                                                                                                June 18^th, 1864

Dear Mother

            In the former part of this letter I wrote you that I was a Corpl. I have to write you that yesterday I was reduced to the ranks, not by misconduct or by getting intoxicated, but by an order sent down from Col Cahill to put a man in as Corpl who was one in his Regt and as I was the last man on the rolls I had to be dropped. but I dont care. I suppose I have got serve my three years out as a private it was nothing more than I expected, so it did not surprise me at all. you will not say a word about it. Ill be getting a birth some of these days higher than that, my health remains good I hope you will be the same. I was up to the Regt yesterday. the boys what are left are all well, give my love to all and take a large share to yourself and a kiss to the children.

 

                                                            I remain your obedient Son,

Direct my letters this way                                           Reuben

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