Columbian Colledge Hospital

Washington D.C. May 18^th/62

 

Dear Father

                        You will see by this that I am agetting along towards home I arrived from Yorktown Thursday May 14^th in the boat Arrowsmith and am a stopping at the C.C. Hosp awaitting for my discharge which will probably come along in a few days as they are discharging all that are not fit for Millitary duty.

 

I have been in the Hospital since the 14^th April and have been verry sick to with the Camp ferver which is a verry hard disease south and the accomodations I received were verry poor. I wrote Roxa as not being verry well but did not want to say as to my being sick / because I thought it might make you feel somewhat uneasy. I was in an old church near Yorktown 16 days on the floor with only one blanket In the church with me was about sixty and 14 out of them died. We had about 800 men die in the Hospital within 4 weeks time near Yorktown. I am very smart now, but the Doct says I am not able to stand camp life and in a few days I am to be discharged I do not want to ask for it because in case I should ask for it I could not draw my $100.00 bounty but in case the Doct gives one a discharge from the service with his own will with out the discharge being applied for why then he would draw his bounty. Congress passed an act in last Thursday May 14 to discharge all disabled or convalesant soldiers who wished for it, And I will come home as quick as I can get my money /

 

Where is N. G. Knight now in Washington D.C. or not if he is I am agoing to look him up. My regards to all the family, and enquiring friends

 

Tell Remy and Alex I will be there to drive them arround the cornfield; Remember me to Roxa

 

Excuse poor writing I am writing on a book. Answer soon

 

send me a paper Republican.

 

Direct C.C. Hospital

            Washington

                                    Yours with Respect

                                                your Son

                                                            Homer

 

Do not put on your letter any name of my Regt or Company in case you do it will gow the Regt

                        Homer

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