9th Ohio Cavalry

Item LTR-5381

Description

4 pages, original Civil War Union letter written in period ink and war dated.


Branch at Clay General Hospital
Louisville, KY

July 10th [1864]

William J. Coburn,

Good morning Beach, tolerable like Yankee. Well we have just had inspection and I had nothing else to do, so I though I would write you a few lines of gospel truths and holy words. The old chaplain has just been in and prayed for us. So I feel kind of sanctimonious at present. Well Beach, how is times with you? They are most well here at present and I expect they are not much better with you. But I suppose you have a few shindigs around there. We have the promise of some shin plasters tomorrow and if I get them I think I will have a spree for a change. Spreeing is darned costly here now though. For just common whiskey costs a dollar a quart and that not very good. I don’t know what the best would cost as I have not had any of that lately. I went up to town the other day to buy a pair of light shoes and they wanted seven dollars for a pair and then rather common. So I just began to think that greenbacks were not of much account. But darn the difference. For it is only this world and the next one and then the iron works anyhow. I don’t care a darn whether school keeps or not for the big girls has quite going. Had Doe been spy seeing it pretty regular this summer or not. Just tell him that I say roll the salt into them. I want to know what old Zeke is about this summer. Have written two or three letters to him since I left home but have not had a scratch of a few from him. Oh yes. I almost forgot to tell you we have got a new doctor in charge here. And I think we will have a little easier time here now. The other damned old shit kept us a white washing and scrubbing all the time. He paid more attention to keeping the wards in order than he did to sick men and wounded ones. This new doctor says there shall be less scrubbing and white washing done and more attention paid to the men. He is sound.

Well I am hoping this will find you all in good health. I will close as I have nothing new or important to write about.

Write as soon as convenient.

Yours Truly,

Charles L. Coburn