University of Virginia Library

1862-03-15


1

Greaner Hospital
Richmond Va

March the, 15, 1862


Dear Cousin

I havent the least
doubt but what you th think
that I have for gotten you
if so, I can assure you that
it is not so, I have nig lected
answering your letters for
some time tho I think
I can offer good excuses for
so doing,

I was so unwell when
I got the letters that
I was not able to write,
I was sick about three
weeks in camp before I was
sent to the Hospital [1] I was
mending when I left camp
and I have improved very
fast sence I have bin
here,[2] I bin here too week


2

to marrow, I would have
writen to you soon after
I got here tho I expected
to go home soon and thought
it un nessary to write as
I was going soon my self,
after I got here thay told
me that I would have
to get a furlow from
my Col[3] be fore I cud go,
the Regiment has moved
sence I left them and I
dont know whare thay
are nor thay dont know
whare I am, so it sis
doubtful about my geting
home soon,[4] you must write to me
as soon as you get this and
let me know whether you
know whare the Regiment
is or not,

our fair is very
rough here far sick folks


3

I see some of my acquantance
nearly every day coming
down on the Cars

all of the recruits and those
that have bin home on
furlows and on thar way back
to the Regiment, have to
wait here until thay
hear whare the Regiment is,
I have no news worth
writeing so I will close write
to me soon and gave me
all the news, Direct
your letters to Greaners
Hospital in care of surg
R, G, Banks

Nothing more but remain
your affectionate Cousin
until Death
James Booker

to Miss C, U, Blair


 
[1]

James Booker was admitted to Richmond General Hospital #18 on March 2, 1862 with chronic diarrhea (Gregory, 82.) He was released from Greaner's Hospital on March 23, 1862 (Confederate Military Records of John and James Booker).

[2]

For information on Civil War medicine in general see Robert E. Denney, Civil War Medicine: Care and Comfort of the Wounded (New York: Sterling Pub., 1994) and for Confederate medical care in particular, see Confederate Medicine, 1861-1865 (Richmond: Medical Society of Virginia, 1961).

[3]

Colonel Edward C. Edmonds was given charge of the 38th Regiment on June 12 1861. He was killed in "Pickett's Charge" at Gettysburg on July 3, 1863 (Gregory, 1.)

[4]

At the time this letter was written, the 38th Regiment was in Warrenton, VA, staying in the Fauquier County Courthouse and the Warren-Green Hotel (Gregory, 11.)