59th Indiana Infantry

Item LTR-10188

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 3 pages, written in period ink.


Nashville, Tennessee

December the 11th 1864

Dear Mother,

It is with great pleasure that I write to you to let you know how I am getting along. I have got the small pox but I have it very light. I am in the small pox hospital. There is lots of it here. I have been very sick since I was taken but I am able to sit up all day now. I think I will be able to go back to my hospital in a few days. I hope this letter may find you and all the rest of the folks well and hearty. There has been some fighting here in site. But the Rebs have left. I don’t know where they are going to. I haven’t heard from Ann since I left home. Tell Jeff Oaks and Matt to write to me. Tell them that I would write to them if I was able and for them to excuse me this time. I wrote Ann a letter yesterday or day before and told her that I had some kind of breaking out and sure enough it was well.

Mother, I would like to see you the best kind. You must take care of yourself and do the best you can and don’t give yourself any uneasiness about me. For I will be alright in a few days. Write and give me all the news. Give my best wishes to John and Bob and Mary and the children. Mother, let Ann see this and tell her that I haven’t heard from her since I left. I would give anything to hear from her. Tell her to write to me, and Mother, I hope the time is not far off when you and me will need to part no more till death calls us away. And then I hope we will need to part no more.

So, I will bring my letter to a close. I still remain your friend as ever. Write soon as you get this.

Hiram Elliott

To Mrs. Jane Elliott

Goodbye

Direct your letters to:
Nashville, Tennessee
U.S. General Hospital Number 11