William R. Conaroe to Gabriella Conaroe, 19 June 1864
Knoxville Tenn June 19th 1864
 
Dear Gabrella
Thinking perhaps that you might want to hear from me once more I thought that I could not occupy the time better so here goes well in the first place to begin with I am in the Hospital not very well but able to be up the most of the time I have been here about two weeks I like the place tolerable well at any rate I like it as well as I do any Hospital for the best is bad enough
 
Well Gabe I have seen the Elephant at last and he looked tolerably hard. We were in the battle all the time for about ten days there were four killed and eight wounded May 14th in our Company. Our Regt lost in one day one hundred and forty six men killed and wounded /
I often think of how I used to Soldier when we were at Indianapolis but such Soldiering as that has played out in those days we have been Soldiering in reality. we came across the Ohio River with nine hundred and twelve men in our Regt only about four months ago and now it numbers only about three hundred and fifty So you see we have had something to do—
 
Gabe, I have not heard a word from home since about the 1st of May I think that it is time some of them was writing to me I want you to write to me and let me know how Mr Wm H.C. and Miss A.T. is getting he wrote to me some time ago and said that she had mooved away from Southport and that she was not so far away now and that the old man would not have to get up and stop the train. Get along Bill dont you say so. /
 
Gabe this is Sunday here but it is not like we have it in Indiana for here you cannot hear any thing but the constant beating of some old drum or the sound of some bugle horn. The place or rather the house that I am in use to be an asylum for the insane it is a large brick building four stories high and I am one of those that occupies the upper story we get tolerably well of to one thing and that is we dont get enough to eat. I would like to be at your house to day for dinner I know that I would have something that is good. I think that I will get a furlough to come home next month I came very near getting one the other day but failed to do it the Doctor told me that I could have one about the 10th July. tell little Iddie that I often think of him and to be a good boy and I will bring him a little gun when I come home /
 
I have nothing more to write that would interest you you must excuse my poor writing for my pen is of short duration Give my best respects to all the friends and especially to the girls. Write soon if you please
 
            yours truly                   Will. R. Conarroe
 
Direct your letter to Knoxville
Tenn Hospital No 1 Ward D
 
            Knoxville Tenn
            Hospital No 1
            Ward (D)
8046
DATABASE CONTENT
(8046)DL1366A.016112Letters1864-06-19

Tags: Death (Military), Fighting, Food, Homesickness, Hospitals, Injuries, Sadness

People - Records: 2

  • (2912) [recipient] ~ Conaroe, Gabriella ~ Harding, Gabriella ~ Pugh, Gabriella
  • (2942) [writer] ~ Conaroe, William R.

Places - Records: 1

  • (672) [origination] ~ Knoxville, Knox County, Tennessee

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SOURCES

William R. Conaroe to Gabriella Conaroe, 19 June 1864, DL1366A.016, Nau Collection