125th Ohio Infantry - NEW

Item LTR-11763

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink.



Murfreesboro, Tennessee
September 14, 1863
 
 
My dear companion,
 
I received a letter from you and Daniel today, and I'm glad to hear from you both. I got such a good letter from Brother Daniel. I shall answer it immediately.
 
I am gaining slowly, but I am not well yet. My back is weak, and my left leg is swelled up yet. Some say it will not get well for a long time, but I am in hopes it will. It is some like Tom Heath's. It is very weak in the ankle joint. It had been over two months since I first swelled up, but the swelling has gone down some. I was swelled clear to the thigh at first and was very painful. I don't know whether I told you anything about it or not. I can't remember from one week to another what I do, right hardly. But my dear Hat, I do not intend to deceive you in anything.
 
The first letter I wrote to you, I could not think what I wanted to write. You spoke about me laying on my back so long and not being changed or taken care of. But you are mistaken. I was changed twice a week, and my nurse was good and kind to me, but he had 16 to tend to and it kept him pretty busy. He failed to see my sore, but I never asked him for anything.
 
However, he would run and do whatever I wanted. He said he would rather tend a dozen like me than one like some he had to tend for. I would take anything he brought to me and never grumble at anything. I think I had good care to go through what I did. I know that I have had the best of care since I came to myself, and what I have seen taking care of others.
 
There was a man came here that was just like I was, and he was changed every two days and was washed with a sponge, so you see that I know I had good care. Because I did not write to you, you must not think I tried to deceive you, because I did not. When I am writing, I want to write so much that I can't think of it all at once, but I hope I have given you a full detail of my sickness.
 
You need not look for me home this fall, for they don't give sick men furloughs if they think he will get well, but wounded men will get furloughs. The surgeon in charge received a letter from Governor Todd. But he said that I was doing so well that he thought best to keep me here. I have the best of care here, and they won't let me go to my regiment till I am well.
 
You and Daniel wrote about a murder in Medina. I want you to write me all the particulars about it, who was murdered and where. I never heard anything about it. You never write anything about Vans and write friends, folks, and Joe's health. Has he come back or not? You never wrote anything about him since he went away.
 
I want you to write all the particulars of the neighborhood. Where is Mark and what is he doing? How is Frank's folks and Russ's? You never have said anything about them. I wrote to Matty, the other day, I should expect a good long letter from her. It has been a long time since I read a letter from her. How I should like to see her and her baby once. 
 
I wrote you a letter this week with $20 in it. You must write and let me know whether you get it or not. I shall send you as much more when I hear from that.
 
How does your corn sow and the cows? I must know all the particulars you know. How is my little heifer doing, and how do you expect to get along with her when she comes in? You must be careful and not get hurt with her.
 
Take care of yourself and Jenia and mother. Tell her I should like to see her, but it is otherwise ordered. But I hope to pray for the best.
 
I think of you often, but I shall not worry. They tell me I am the most contented of any of them, and that is the reason I get along so well. My love to all.
 
From your husband, 
 
Festus