105th Illinois Infantry and 107th USCT

Item LTR-5577

Description

4 pages, original Civil War soldier's letter written in period pencil and war dated.

General Hospital Ward One
Lexington, Ky Oct 2nd [1863]

My dearest little darling wife

I received your letter yesterday but don’t think I can answer it with this pen. I had got almost homesick when I read what you wrote about coming down here. I could not help but thinking of a woman who has just been visiting her husband who is sick in this very ward. She arrived about dusk and when she saw him she went right at him about as you did when I came home last. There are 57 men in this ward and their beds are so arranged that they all face the center of the room where this man was lying, so that we had a fine chance to see it all. And that was not all. When it came bedtime there being no other place, she had to undress and go to bed beside her husband before us all and as the lights are kept burning all night we could not help seeing her hoops, etc. I only mention this to show you what you would have experienced if you had come down. It is no use to write to Ed to come here for it is almost impossible for a captain to leave his company.

I am glad you wrote me when we were married for I was thinking of it the other day and could not remember the day of the month, nor the year although I spent three days’ hard study on the subject. I’ll try not to forget again Sept. 25th 1860.

How you get all that money I don’t know, nor understand how with all your work you can earn it. But I know one thing, that you are a darling little wife anyway. I have been fretting about money for you ever since I came here.

You must send me a list of men drafted in South Grove & Malta in you next letter. I am getting over my sickness but I don’t seem to gain any strength. I cannot sit up longer than to write a letter or two. I have to be well by November. It won’t do for me to think of coming home as a furlough for you would get sick of seeing me so often.

I have written to Mother. Are you still at Uncle Henry’s house? Have you ever sent for that blanket at De Kalb? It is at the house of a Mr. Foote. It is a new one of a brown color. How goes the night Birdie? The sign is. I wish I had some more of your current jelly but it would cost more to get it than to buy it here.

Write soon. Your affectionate husband,
Chas B. Safford