U. States Gen Hospital

                                                                                                Annapolis M.D June 21^st

 

My Dear Sister

                        I have just been releaved from duty, and now I will sit down and ans. your kind letter which I received yesterday. I am now sitting alone in my room. I have a nice little room. There are two of us together. We have evry thing convenient. I am having it some what easier than last summer although I am tired of this monotonus life and long for a change but I suppose I ought not to complain when I think of the poor boys in the field. We are having prettie busy times here now, as a boat arrived last eve with 530 badly wound / from Petersburg. Oh it was a sad sight to see them bringing the poor fellows off on streachers, som with arms off others with both legs gone, and some strugling with death. It was a sad sight I can assure you, quite anumber have already dead, and others in death emprace The most of the wounded are from the sec & ninth Corps.

 

Oh! that this human strife was at an end. The Rebels seem determined to fight untill the last drop of blood is shed, and all hope is cut off. It don’t seem as though they could stand the contest much longer with all their comunications cut off.

 

A few weeks will decide this terrable struggle and peace sweet peace begin to dawn on us. I should enjoy being at Lawrence very much now, and take a trip down home with you. but I suppose I must be content / to wait a while longer. I cannot bear the idea of your leaving L. and that I shall probably never visit you there again. I almost wish I had waited untill this spring before I had taken my furlough but prehaps it is all for the best as I shouldn’t have seen Otis. Oh! how I should like to have you visit me this summer as this is such a delightful place this season of the year. How I shoul like to send you in a nice lot of cherries this morning. We can take a sail across the river most any time when not on duty and help ourselves Strawberries have been very plenty here. I should like to take a walk through your garden this morning. I expect it looks prettie nice now. They have some prettie nice gardens out here but don’t take so much care of them as they do north. I expect Father would like to have my / help this summer. I wouldn’t mind working hard if I could only get out of this I am tired of this kind of a life I don’t think I was cut out for a soldier. This is geting to be a great place for Officers There are some 150 here some of them are one duty here There are some regulars among them they have charge of the guard, they put on much style and make thing go strait. if a poor private hapens to pass on of them on duty as officer of the day, why he is lodged in the guard house and prehaps tied up by the thumbs. One of them lodged five or sick in the guard house the other day because they did not think to salute him, and before evening he went to town and got drunk and offerd one / of the guards $500 to let him in Such is is a specimen of some of our our brave Officer

 

I suppose you heard of the death of Geo. Thomas. It seems he was killed during the three days fight It must be a terrabl blow to his folks. His time is nearly out his Reg. is at home now. We have a plenty of reading here I spend the most of my time when off duty in reading and writing

 

Tuesday P.M. The wounded are dieing off fast. The hot weather is very bad but a nice cool breeze is blowing which makes it very comfortable I found one of the Bluebell Boys this afternoon Colin Oben he is wounded through / the arm. I was very much pleased with Auther letter I was surprised to think he could write so well. Tell him I will try ans it soon. Give my respects to Wilber. I suppose that he will be leaving for home about the time school commences there.

 

Remember me to Rubie & Fannie And except a heart full of love from

 

                                                                                    Your Aff Bro.

                                                                                                Albert

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