Lebanon Ill Feby 20/80

D^r J. A. Hatch

                                                                                                            Dear old time friend

                                                                                                                        I send you a blank on which to make affidavit of what you know in relation to my case. I have given you memorandum of dates & Co that you can fill in accordance with what you have write… The battle of Dallas Georgia commenced on the evening of 25^th of May 1864 Hooker's forces were repulsed & we were ordered forward to sustain. The night of the 24^th of May 1864 according to my diary you and I slept together 1 mile from Burnt Hickory and having no shelter tents we got as wet as we could get with rain / and on the night of the 25^th after arriving about dark on the battle field we bivouaced under a large tree having our saddles for seats & our backs under leaned against the tree and our Ponchos thrown over us for protection against the rain but got pretty thoroughly soaked that night. The attack of "angina Pectoris" did not occur for 3 or 4 days after the battle commenced but I think that had a good deal to do in causing it.

 

I came to Officers Hospital at Nashville about the time you left. I think I recommended you for furlough You can say that you knew I was assigned to duty at the Hospital on account of ill health not being fit for duty in the field Make the affidavit before a   ^X

 

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^X   justice of the peace & then send to your County clerk to certify that the justice is right. Whatever the expense may be send the bill & I will send you the Money    F. W. Lytle /

 

Observe your Signature will come at the top of the 2^nd page and give rank & service in the Army. Read the notes on this affidavit carefully

 

Make the affidavit befor a justice unless it should be that you are at the County seat In that case the County clerk is enough

 

If before a Justice of the peace forward it the county clerk by / mail unless it convenient to send by private conveyance & either have him or yourself to forward it either to me or to John W. Osborne Pension agent Lebanon Ill whose name is indorsed on the paper—

 

                                                                        Yours truly

                                                                                    F. W. Lytle

 

PS I believe I have given all the explanations I can. Please execute it as soon as you can

                                                                                                                        F. W. Lytle /

 

If you can make affidavit to what I have written below if not alter and amend untill you can. Fill in in regard to your own attack as to dates & that will make the chain of evidence complete for me

                                                                                                                                               

F. W. Lytle M.D Surgeon 36^th Ill Inf & I were together at the battle of Dallas Georgia. The night before and the night the battle commenced May 24 & 25^th 1864 we got thoroughly soaked with rain having no shelter tents three or four days after this he had great nervous prostration and was attacked with "Angina Pectoris" but remained with his command still suffering more or less from this malady. When we arrived at Chattanooga we were assigned to different duty. I was stricken down with Typhoid Fever at

(here you can fill in)

and did not see him again till about the time I was leaving the Officers Hospital at Nashville Tenn where he had been assigned to duty ill health compelling him to give up field service.                     Jethro A Hatch M.D.

                                                Asst Surg 36 Ills /

 

It dont matter about the time after your return to the Regiment as I was home on furlough having had my time extended to 60 days and when they got me back to Nashville the war was over & my resignation sent before that was accepted. Did you get promotion after I left the regiment

 

                                                                                    Yours truly

                                                                                                F. W. Lytle

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