Levi J. Seamans
USA Genl. Hospital No 1
Chattanooga Tenn
March 23rd 1865
Dear Friend George,
I received your letter the other day and I was very glad to hear from you and home. I am well at present and having pretty easy times. I am clerking for the ward doctor and I don't have half as much to do as I would like, but, when I am get some tools to make rings, I can easily pass the time away and to a pretty good advantage.
I see by the papers that no mail can get to Sherman, so of course the boys cannot hear from you, and I do not expect you can hear from them, either. I would like to know how they are getting along. They might all be dead and I would not know anything about it -- for I do not hear from them, only from home. I want you, when you write to tell me whether you have heard from them lately, and if you have, tell me how they are.
I got my box that father sent to me all right and you can bet I had a gay old supper that night. I don't suppose you would have thought it was very good, but it tasted mighty good to me!
I suppose you know, by this time, who is drafted and who is not in our town. Of course, some of you was, and, who knows but that you are one of them. I hope not, for I know that you are needed at home.
I have not had a letter from Allen yet, and, if I remember right, I wrote him before I did you. I am not certain. Tell him that he must write often, for I want to hear from him in person.
Yesterday, there was a man here to see his son who is in the hospital. The man went downtown to see if there was any letters there for his son and, on his way, stopped to ask some men that were talking where the post office was. The person he was going to ask was Genl Thomas, and as the man did not want to break in on them when they were talking, he thought he would wait until the got done. He had not stood there long when Genl Thomas asked him his business, and the man told him that he had come down to see his son. The Genl asked him if he had papers to show for it, and, as he did not, the Genl put him under arrest thinking he was a spy. He was taken to the Provost Marshal's Office, and, after they found out that he was not a spy, sent him off about his business. It scared the man almost to death. He said he did not know anything about who the man was (that he was going to ask about the PO) but did not dream of it being Genl Thomas. I guess he will be a little careful how he stands around listening to conversation between shoulder straps. I had to laugh at the fellow when he came back to the hospital. He was almost scared to death. He said they would not get him down there again. A citizen ought to know enough to be careful if he wants to get along all right among soldiers, and especially officers.
I don't know of any news but what you will have heard before you get this, so I will bring this to close. Hoping to hear from you soon.
Affectionately yours,
Levi J. Seamans
USA Hospital No 1
Chattanooga Tenn
PS Give my love to Sarah and Mary and all other friends.
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