Lincoln Genl. Hospital
Washington, DC
August 26th, 1863
Dear Brother and Sister
I now seat myself to write
you a few lines to let you know
that I am still in the Hospital but
expect to leave in a few days as the
Invalids have come to relieve us I
do not know what Day we may be
relieved but probably soon. I think
that I ouight to be satisfied to
return now for I have shunned two
heavy Battles and perhaps saved
my life by it but I can say
that I am not sorry that I
enlisted at the time I did for
now one year is gone and I am
well perhaps in better health
than I would have been if I had
remained at home for I never
had better health in my life
than at the present time I am
now Ward Master of Ward 14 but am
kept pretty busy writing I have
but a verry few spare moments through
the day and sometimes have a Great
many Reports to make out in the
evening John Pollock and myself
are both Ward Masters now it is
lighter work that to be an attendant
and much more privileges I have
a room by myself in one end of the
Ward where I do my writing and where
the Dr. does his business for the Ward
We have a new Dr. in charge of Hospt.
and a new one in the Ward he is a real
fine social young man He has formerly
belonged to the 16th Regt. N.Y. Vols.
Our old Dr. has been removed from
here to Convelescent Camp he was the
kindest man that I ever saw he
was so faithful to the sick he was
always round 4 or 5 times a day when
others would be round only once he
was here from the Camp tonight to bid
us good by O! how bad the patients
did feel to part with him he was
so kind to them both Dr. and
patients shed tears at the parting
one of the wounded told him he
would give him twenty dollars if
he would only come back but money
is nothing to him he would come
back just as quick for nothing as
he would for 1000 Dollars but
the Dr. in Charge of the Hospital is a
Syracusian and a Roman Catholic at
that he is very strict and rather inclined
to be a little ugly he knows
that he is the ruler and he means
to let those that are under him know
it I have 50 patients in my Ward
at present but I marked a goodly
number of them for their Regt. Tomorrow
there is three out of our Regiment besides
me in this Ward I do not intend to
send them until I go myself and I am
ready to go now anytime. I have been
here almost eight months I think that
is about long enough to live in a Hosp.
for one time but I don't know as it has
been any damage to me it has rather
been a benefit I can dress wounds
now as good as any of the Doctors our
old Dr always took a great deal of
pains to show me how to dress and bandage
I still continue to do all the wound dressing myself
for I had rather do it that to learn some
green hand how to do it.
Well Lib a few more line and I
will close for present I was down to the
Citty the other and I visited the Smith-
sonian Institute every kind of animal
Bird Fish serpent and even Mummys it
paid me well for my trouble and I have
been all through the patent office that
is quite a sight there is but very little
in Washington that I have not seen I
have been in every part of the citty and Navy
yard since I have been here.
Sam sent me a daily paper from home
which I received today I see that some
of the Pompey boys are drafted and
amongst thos of Fabius is John
Morrison
The reason why I write this letter
tonight is to let you know that I
expect to leave here soon and that you
need not write any more to me at
present for if I should leave here I
might not be able to get the letters
so you need not write any more
I will write and let you know how
I get along quite often so you
need not worry about me at all
for I trust that the Lord will take
care of me where ever I am please
excuse all mistakes and poor
writing from your ever true and
affectionate Brother
J.A. Morrison
This is the third letter that I have written
since 8 oclock this evening and it is now
11. So good by
Maintained by
Sue Greenhagen.
E-mail:
greenhsh@morrisville.edu
Last updated 22 April 2000