Delavan Bates, letter
November 27, 1862
"Here I am yet in Hagerstown on Thanksgiving Day. The weather is splendid, not a particle of snow, middling cool. The sun shining brightly and 1, myself, feeling very nice. I shall not go out today as I have a slight attack of the jaundice, nothing serious. I am getting real strong since I got over the fever, should probably have been stronger if I had not went down to Washington so soon, but I am glad I went for I got my pay for two months by going, over 200 dollars, which I do not know when I should have got without going down and this will pay all I am owing and some beside. Those berries you sent me were splendid. They are the first I have tasted since leaving home. Mrs. Swartz, a real old lady where I am boarding, stewed them for me. Mrs. Maxwell where I was when I had the fever and Mrs. Swartz both have been very kind to me, doing as much as anyone possibly could for me, except you. I gave Mrs. Maxwell 20 dollars for I have no doubt she saved my life. The doctor only charged me $4.25 for five visits in which he broke the fever and nursing brought me up. I know you must worry yourself a good deal about me. Now for my sake don't any more, I have enjoyed myself first rate ever since I left home except a few days on the march and about a week when I was in the hospital, but I never got downhearted or discouraged a particle. When I get home, and I surely expect to get thereagain, I am going to stay. So make yourself as contented as you can till I come. You know I always wanted to go away from home to see the world, and especially for the last few years. Now I am away and am perfectly satisfied that there is nothing away from home that will satisfy a person's desires any more than at home. Even in Washington where I stayed three days I saw nothing that would entice me to stay rather than be with you at home."
Author
Name: Delavan Bates
Unit: 121st Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry (Slocum’s Division, Franklin’s Corps), Co. I
Document Information
Type: Letter
Subject(s):
- Soldier Life/Camp Life
- Hospitals/Medical Care
Event Location: Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD
Document Origin: Hagerstown, Washington Co., MD
Source
Delavan Bates to Alpheus Bates. November 27, 1862. Transcribed by William S. Saint. Obtained from http://www.soldierstudies.org. Accessed on February 8, 2010.
