Henry H. Covert to Lucinda Van Pelt, 24 February 1865
U. S. Sanitary Commission.
Baltimore Febuary 24 1865
                                                                                                                                 
Dear Wife
                        it is just one year agoe to day since i saw you but how i should like it to day i would walk on crutches a mile if i could but it would be a hard job i guess i am getting along as well as can be expected for my wound the nurces say they never saw so sever a flesh wound and the doctor told me to day that i was a good one he said this wound would kill most men but i do not mind it i fell just as good as ever i did in my life only i am lame but i have not a bit of pain the wound was the worst about a week after it was made then it was sore and that direaher is worse than the wound the doctor give me pills to stop it and i feel good to day / you see it is not like being sick we are well and harty only lame so you see we are in good spirits i should like very much to come home but i would only be in your way you would have to babys to nurse then instead of one and that would be to hard for you so we will have to stay until i get better if father comes hear on the first of March he can get me a fourlough for 60 days i think but i can do nothing alone but i think father will be down on the first of March for i want to see home baddly you see the doctors thinks we are to helpless to travil alone but if any of your friends comes to take you then they will let you go i hope that you will be able to answer this letter befor i get home if you answer it right away but i think the next one i write will be home i hope so anyhow / you must not worrie about me for i am getting along very smart the other boys is wounded slitly and i am as smart as them i can straiten my leg out by the knee but by the body it will not move yet and all the meat has fell away nothing but bone and muscle it looks so funny one fat leg and one lean one we have fine times laufing and telling stories to one another i am so full of talk i will keep you all going i never wanted to talk so badly in all my life good gracious i can talk the legs off of a cast iron pot you will get tired of hearing me i bet for i will let my tonge run like a steam engine i got my box of cake from mother i am just eating one they taste high i got eggs for brexfast this morning i had two but they took one away then i had but one but i made out i mean to have wat / i want any way missy you dont know how bad i want to see you if i had you hear i would have one kiss befor all thes boys i feell as if i could walk almost if i could see you and the boy does he grow any my dear and wouldent i like to see that ellen aunt of yours she is so thin she must look funny if i get sixty days fourlough we will go to see them and some more of the people how i will live if i do get home it is to bad that i could not be well but i will be again sometim i hope this war will be over soon i think so any way i got a letter from Mr Gardner and father & mother i did not know that it took so long for a letter to come to you or i should not have thought you would not answer them now good bye and forgive me all my sins if you can
 
from one who ever thinks of you
            your Husband H H Covert
1586
DATABASE CONTENT
(1586)DL0245.001107Letters1865-02-24

Group of Letters and Photographs of Henry H. Covert, 1st New Jersey Cavalry


Tags: Children, Family, Food, Furloughs, Home, Homesickness, Injuries, Medicine, Recreation, United States Sanitary Commission, War Weariness

People - Records: 2

  • (2720) [writer] ~ Covert, Henry H.
  • (2721) [recipient] ~ Van Pelt, Lucinda ~ Covert, Lucinda

Places - Records: 1

  • (180) [origination] ~ Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland

Show in Map

SOURCES

Henry H. Covert to Lucinda Van Pelt, 24 February 1865, DL0245.001, Nau Collection