Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/winchell-edward-a/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
General Hospital Sep 10/62
Dear Add:
I have been suffering with a
severe fever several days past and in con
sequence have been unable to answer your
kind, interesting letter as soon as I in
tended at the time of its reception. I
am very weak and I write with difficulty
my wound during my sickness was very
much inflamed and is in a worse
condition at the present time than it
was when I dispatched a note to you in
forming you of the fact that I had receiv
ed a wound. I am in hopes I shall im
prove from this time and I think I shall
since the fever has deserted me.
My wound is of a more serious nature
than was at first supposed by the sur
geon. The bone is injured but not
seriously and it will take a long time
affect a cure. If I could only get home
I should feel perfectly contented
We have miserable care the nurses
are convalescents and since they re
ceive no “extra nods” some are un
willing bring even a cup of water to
the bed side of a person who cannot
help him self in the least. Father
would have been down to see me
before this but I would not let as
I know he could not get me
home and I did not want him
to leave his business at this season
of the year on my account unless
it should be absolutely necessary
Add, I want you to be sure
to kiss your dear mother for me and
tell I love her as dearly as she
does me and can fully appreciate
her
wish that she “could only go
down and nurse the dear boy.” I have
as deep an interset in all of
you as you have in me. I trust
Aunt and Mary have fully recov
ered from their sickness.
I am happy to know you have
such a good and appropriate posi
tion and I trust you may feel con
tented in it. I am of the opinion
that such a place is much better
in these times than to be in the
strictest manner possible “your
own master.” I have looked anxiously over
the lists of killed and wounded of
Kearnys Division but have not men
tioned Ed’s name. I hope therefore, he
is fine. Have you heard anything of
him since the late battle? God grant
he may have escaped.
The space between this place and
Washington is an immense tented
field although but a portion of the
army is here or in sight The rest
oration of McClellan to the com
mand all the forces in this vicinity
gives general satisfaction to the men
who do the fighting and they
are the ones who should be sat
isfied with place an army under
the command of a general in whom
they have no confidence and they
will be soon to visit with disaster.
There was a time when I had no
confidence in McC but my preju
dices are overcome and I now be
lieve him to be the best general
in the world. The Rebs are in
Maryland and Pa and Mc is
after them with an army that
must mean their speedy defeat
and capture. More work will be
performed this fall than we can
imagine – there is no set
[ ? ]
I should like to write more but
Must desist. Give my love to all.
Adrian
Johnson
General Hospital
Alexandria
VA
[On Envelope:]
A.H. Winchell Esq.
Advertise & Tribune Officer
All let one now what
Detroit
news there is in here from Ed
Mich
To J. Phelps
