46th Pennsylvania Infantry

Item LTR-9599

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 2 pages, written in period ink.


Carver, U.S. General Hospital
Washington, DC

June 27, 1865

Dearest Friends:

My complaints have so far left me that I feel well, but quite weak. For this I take up much exercise in walking around as I can. I do not think I shall be able to do very hard work in haying this season, if I should get there in time. It was very fortunate for me to get out of camp as soon as I did. For no doubt it has prevented a low state of sickness to which I appeared to be tending to. Say the least in camp is a poor place for a man to be sick. Besides this I shall look for my discharge papers next week. They may not send as soon as that. But they appear to be discharging as fast as they can. So my turn will come in time.

I have lately been thinking what course to take to make the best use of circumstances at home. Two or three ideas present themselves but all require capital that I fear I have not yet.

About the 1st of July Uncle Sam will expose for sale at Pittsburgh a large lot of mules. If they are anything like the kind used here, a good share of them are larger than the Cornish horses up in Crawford. The price at the Washington sale is as $60 for the best, while they are really worth $150 a piece. I would like to be a Pitts and bag us a team of this kind. I have not said much to anybody about this but have thought of it some. I feel the necessity of using the greatest economy this fall and winter. If you should write to me after receiving this, it might be best to mention the ward 26.

Yours truly,

B. Sunderlin