8th Vermont Infantry - Chaplain's Letter of Soldier's Death

Item MED-10296

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 5 pages, written in period ink.


Brattleboro, VT
July 1, 1864

Ira Stockwell Esq
Dear Sir,

A letter from Mrs. Hapgood reached me this morning in answer to her inquires I write to say that your dear son regained his senses fully till within a few moments before his death, when he gently fell asleep.
His spirit during all his stay in the hospital was from patient and cheerful and affectionate toward all about him and especially toward the general of the 13th Army Corps who hearing he had lost his money sent him ($30 I think); above all he was tender and loving toward his home, his wife and kin and parents.
He suffered a good deal before he came to New Orleans, but I think he wrote particularly of his wound and escape from the Rebels. He was so happy not to be a prisoner in their cruel hands, to be among friends and to be able to communicate with you all, that his pain seemed to be nothing.
He was wounded, as you know in the right hip; and the ball having been taken out. The wound was not bad, although the bone was bruised. He could not sit-up but lay quite comfortably on a water-bed, being able to have it changed every day. It pained him to move his right leg and he liked to have it bent at the knee. And so we made a prop or rest like this [see drawing in letter] to fit under the knee and prevent its swinging aside when he fell asleep and waking him up with pain.
He gained the respect and affection of all who saw him so that it was a privilege to do for him. He expressed strong religious feelings, spoke of his comfort from prayer to God.
We all thought for some time that he would recover and it was, I have no doubt, a very severe trial when he perceived his imminent danger, but he was composed and I wrote (did I not) two or three times, giving you his feelings.
I saw him several times a day and remember his appearance and manner and the cheerful tones of his voice for I was very much interested in him.
He bore the word faithfully which Jesus came to him on earth and he bore the cross, too which our savior appoints to his true disciples.
He often spoke of God’s approval and of the good cause in which he suffered. I remember the deep voice and the pleasant smile and the affectionate honoring way in which he spoke your Christian name. Ira – when I was directing his letter.

He received $30 from his general and $20 from you and also some pay and the chief nurse of his ward told me that that he (the chief nurse) sent it to you by express. He sent it before letting me know. If it has not been received by his wife or yourself, you had better write at once to Surgeon A. Hartsuff in charge St. Louis Hospital. You may say that I informed you “That your son had this money, and that I remember his nurse, the chief nurse of Ward B, told me, when I inquired about the money, that he had already sent it to his friends.” It if was sent, the express receipt will show the fact.

With sincere sympathy,
Francis C. Williams

I am at home on sick leave which will account for my date.