Grace Church Hospital
Alexandria Va.
May 25th 1863
Dear Father I now sit down
with pleasur to answer your
letter which I recieced this morning
date May 21st was much plesed
to here from home as I always am
and espacialy because I havent
had a letter for so long.
I havent had one before since
I have been here but it was
my falt as I gave the wrong
directions.
I am pretty well now but
my right side is lame
and I have had a bad cald
but am better then I was a
week a go I do a good mny light
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Chours around the hospital.
and have got a good apatite.
for any thing.
I havent herd from the battery
yet wrote two letters to John
and havent had an answer.
the report was last night that
the rebs were going to make
a raid here last night and
take the town if thay could
there was a number of regt
ordered out some five or
six miles to throw up brest
works yesterday. there was
three Battery pased throw
town last night after nine
the gard before the hospital
told me that one was the
R. I. Battery H. it may
be so one week ago I herd say
that thay was down to shantilla
Jeff davis says that he can take
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Alexandira but that he
cant hold it thay would
like to have him make a raid
here with his Cavalery more
then one of his sadles would
be emptied be fore thay all
got throw there was a hevey
force of rebel Cavelry
out about ten miles from
here last night. redy for
the atact our men maid
redy for them. I went two
bed and slept all night
got up this morning and
thay hadent maid an
araid I suppose thay thought
it proper not to.
thay might as well keep
away there is a good fortication
al round the town and
some hevy guns. thay make
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a noise when thay gow and
tell to I guess that we will
fetsh them tow it be fore
an other year there is a
good meny darkies escape
ing and coming in to the
town evry day
and our men is enlisting
them as fast as thay come
thay are getting up
nigger regt thay are
pretty tough heded and
thay may fight pretty well
I am alway glad to here from
home tell sis that she must
write and a little of mothers
advice wont hurt me any
dont think of any more at present
love to all in haste
John P. Campbell