| Page 4 contains an interesting reference to his intent to send home a box containing clothes and bones! |
Camp Donaldson
Nashville Tenn
July 9 1864
Dear wife:
Having received no letter from you this week I Proceed not
withstanding my disappointment to make you my usual weekly visit a short
letter; for some days past I have been quite unwell owing I think to
the
extremely warm weather and the amount of duty I have had to perform.
I
have not been so sick as to ask to be relieved from duty today I am
much
better and am feeling quite well.
The weather still continues extreamly warm though we have for the last
few days occasional showers of rain which makes more tolerable than it
would otherwise be. Yesterday and the day before I visited
several of the
Hospitals in the city and found among the sick and wounded a number of
the 125th Ills and some others with whom I was formerly acquainted in
Hospital. I found Hiram Hollett with three other boys from my old
regiment.
2
Hiram is not wounded but has been sick he is getting better
and has not
been dangerously ill. Clark Snell is in the same Hospital
he is wounded in
the head but not dangerous. John Brothers is in the Cumberland
Hospital has been severly wounded in the side but is doing well and his wound is
nearly healed he will be well in a short time. The
Hospitals are filled with
the sick and wounded from the front but there are very few deaths
considering the extremely hot weather warm weather.
The wounded bear
their sufferings with surprising fortitude, and as you pass round among
hem they will hold up a stump from which a leg or arm has been
amputated and tell you that they will make the Rebel smell powder for
it
yet. Poor fellows their country will be saved with a
great sacrifice to
them they are true heroes and demand our love and
admiration My
heart is pained when I look upon so many fine looking young men maimed
disfigured and cripples for life through this wicked Rebellion
3
a few days since I witnessed the raising of a magnificent flag on a pole
near
two hundred feet high at the Cumberland Hospital Some
five hundred of
the Convalescents and wounded who were able to be out were present, the
crowd stood motionless while the flag was slowly raised to the top of
the
pole, when the broad stripes floated Proudly upon the breeze the
deafening
cheers simultaneously burst forth from the voices of the five hundred
veteran soldiers. The Gov. is a true man and well worthy the
confidence
and support of every loyal American citizen.
A few appropriate remarks were also made by the Col, and Chaplin of my
regiment when we dispursed to our quarters with renewed determination to
stand by the glorious emblem of our Country's liberty though Rebels in
arms have dared to trail it in the dust. I can not und
understand why I do
not get word from you more frequent than I do. I have written to
you
regularly every week and sometimes twice a week. I have had but
two in
six weeks post.
4
I answer all your letters and write to you once a week whether I receive any from you or not I would be very happy to see you and if I am spared till fall I will use every effort in my power to accomplish that very desirable end I can not get leave of absence to come home while there is so much work here for Surgeons as at present. I saw Wm Hall yesterday he is well and at work in the city. One company of our Regt is ordered to Alabama They start tomorrow. the balance of the Regt may go south soon though the Col thinks we may remain here this summer I think I will send home a box in a few days if I can get permission. It will contain some clothing which you can use for the children as you think proper. Also some bones. after you have taken out all but the bones you set the box upstairs where it will keep dry and be out of the way. I have not yet recd. pay for the last two months but expect to be paid in a few days I think I can send home fifty dollars this month and will send more when I am paid again
5
after I get a horse I will not be obliged to lay out so much money in the
future as that will nearly complete my outfit I would
not buy a horse now
if I could help it but the regulations require me to furnish myself a
horse
and I cannot get around it When I send the next money
I will have to
send it by express I do not yet know whether I will send
the money or a
check to draw it as there is at this time considerable risk in sending
money
through Kentucky I will write to you before I start
it. Tell the children I
remember them and do not forget them in my Prayers and I have a great
anxiety to know that they are not disobedient to mother and that they
will
remember to be kind and gentle to each other and am especially desirous
that they carefully avoid manifesting or indulging in ill words or
temper and
besides I wish them to be careful to speak the truth under all
circumstances
Oh! How it would pain me to know that one of my children whom I love
so much should be branded as a liar better speak the truth
let it cost
what it may
(over)
as everybody hates a liar and no liar can enter the kingdom of Heaven
Give my love to the Brethren and Sisters, tell them I still need
their
prayers.
Remember me to any inquiring friends
Write soon
your affectionate husband
Eli M. Hewitt
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The Genealogy of Eli Martin Hewitt © 2003 Bill Hewitt [bill-hewitt@sbcglobal.net] All rights reserved.
Extracts of information herein may be reproduced for non-commercial, personal
genealogical use.
(Updated:
15-Dec-2003)