_Washington, Tuesday forenoon, May 26, 1863._ DEAREST MOTHER--I got a long
letter from George, dated near Lancaster, Kentucky, May 15th; he seems to
be well and in good spirits--says he gets some letters from me and papers
too. At the time he wrote the 51st was doing provost duty at Lancaster,
but would not probably remain so very long--seem to be moving towards
southeast Kentucky--had a good camp, and good times generally. Le Gendre
is colonel--Gen. Ferrero has left the service--Col. Potter (now
brig.-gen.) is in Cincinnati--Capt. Sims, etc., are all well. George
describes Kentucky as a very fine country--says the people are about half
and half, Secesh and Union. This is the longest letter I have yet received
from George. Did he write you one about the same time? Mother, I have not
rec'd any word from home in over a week--the last letter I had from Mr.
Lane was about twelve days ago, sending me $10 for the soldiers (five from
Mr. Kirkwood and five from Mr. Conklin Brush). Mother dear, I should like
to hear from Martha; I wish Jeff would write me about it. Has Andrew gone?
and how is your wrist and arm, mother? We had some very hot weather
here--I don't know what I should have done without the thin grey coat you
sent--you don't know how good it does, and looks too; I wore it three
days, and carried a fan and an umbrella (quite a Japanee)--most everybody
here carries an umbrella, on account of the sun. Yesterday and to-day
however have been quite cool, east wind. Mother, the shirts were a real
godsend, they do first rate; I like the fancy marseilles collar and
wrist-bands. Mother, how are you getting along--I suppose just the same as
ever. I suppose Jess and Ed are just the same as ever. When you write,
you tell me all about everything, and the Browns, and the neighborhood
generally. Mother, is George's trunk home and of no use there? I wish I
had it here, as I must have a trunk--but do not wish you to send until I
send you word. I suppose my letter never appeared in the _Eagle_; well, I
shall send them no more, as I think likely they hate to put in anything
which may celebrate me a little, even though it is just the thing they
want for their paper and readers. They altered the other letter on that
account, very meanly. I shall probably have letters in the N. Y. _Times_
and perhaps other papers in about a week. Mother, I have been pretty
active in hospitals for the past two weeks, somewhere every day or night.
I have written you so much about cases, etc., I will not write you any
more on that subject this time. O the sad, sad things I see--the noble
young men with legs and arms taken off--the deaths--the sick weakness,
sicker than death, that some endure, after amputations (there is a great
difference, some make little of it, others lie after it for days, just
flickering alive, and O so deathly weak and sick). I go this afternoon to
Campbell hospital, out a couple of miles.
Mother, I should like to have Jeff send me 20 of the large-sized portraits
and as many of the standing figure; do them up flat. I think every day
about Martha. Mother, have you heard any further about Han? Good-bye for
the present, dearest mother.