Letter from Henry, dated 1863-09-19

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ass't Surgeon and at once joined his Regiment. He died the 14th inst in N.Y. City of Typhoid fever. It is sad to see a young man cut down like this one at the very commencement of his career. But his labors as a Student are not wholly lost. All right culture in this world but fits us better for our duties in the next. Another young man, a Classmate was shot in an engagement with the rebels near Hagerstown July 6th. Capt. Woodward was a man of rare promise, a warm friend and a noble representative of manly qualities. His loss was a crushing blow to not only his family but his large circle of friends, many of whom mourned him as a brother.

I enclose in this $3.75 for Thomas. Please write soon. With Kind regards to all I remain

truly yours

Henry.

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U.S.A. General Hospital Burlington, Vermont Sept. 19th 1863.

My Kind Friend:

As I think a few moments of my leisure could not be employed to better advantage than in performing an epistolary duty to you, I hasten to deface this fair sheet by a few miserable scrawls of mine. I am quite well at present writing. I think I am steadily improving and I certainly feel much better for the last dose of home medicine. The few days of my short furlough were very pleasantly spent. I think I never enjoyed any visit more. I found my Father convalescent and able to ride about with me which was very convenient, as I had considerable visiting to do.

[in left margin:] I accidentally left my Greek Testament at your house. I wish you would send it me by mail.

I saw your Sister & Husband. Was not able to make them a visit but happened to meet them at an Uncle's. They were well.

The most pleasant days have an end and so did my Furlough, at the expiration of which I reported back.

Since so pleasant a period Hospital life has been rather irksome but I have managed in one way and another to drive dull care away. I am studying [strikeout]and[/strikeout] reading & visiting beside writing now and then a letter. If I get sufficiently strong I think I shall return to College and try to graduate another year. I would like to do so much as this year will be a broken one at best.

I think now my stump will heal sometime. I have made the discovery that there is a fragment of bone to come out yet, which is the cause of all the mischief. It is quite a large fragment and is now loose

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but the Dr. thinks it ought not to be disturbed as it might injure some other parts. In due time it will come out and as the stump is healthy in other respects I am in hopes it will heal soon after the difficulty is removed.

I have just returned from the funeral services of President Pease. He died day before yesterday after a short illness. In him we have lost one our most useful men. The loss of such a man is a public calamity, but the ways of Providence are insenitible. The learned, the ignorant, the good & the bad are alike taken away. Each must go in his turn.

Wednesday I attended the funeral of one of my College friends, Dr. Chapin Asst. Surgeon of the 6th Vermont. He graduated two years ago, Commenced his medical studies at once and took his degree as M.D. last June. He was Commissioned as