Clapp, George, fl. 1839-1892 to Parents

Got their letter last night. "I can't say I really like life in hospital." Thinks the fact that he was home for several weeks makes being in the hospital even worse. Will try to get home as often as possible. Will get paid as soon as the paymaster is ready. Has heard they are going to be paid next week. Does not want to cause too much of a stir at the hospital for fear of being sent back to Satterlee. Heard from Simeon that Mrs. Bliss was "but just alive." Was going to call on Mr. Bliss earlier, but decided not to in light of his wife's illness. Needs a pass to go into the city. Can go as often as 3 or 4 times a week. Glad that they bought a new cow. His right arm has stopped running completely from the upper opening and has slowed to "not more than 3 or 4 drops a day from the 2 lower openings." "I don't have much pain from it." Saw Simeon again this afternoon. Mrs. Bliss died Saturday afternoon of typhoid fever. "Today a man come into our ward… who left Sid on the 14th of Dec. last." When he left Sid, he was "as tough and well as ever." Hopes Sid will be alright "both for his own sake and that of his family." Asked the man many questions throughout the day; thinks he has found out all there is to know about Sid's condition. "I think it the duty of our Govt. to release those prisoners at any price. Future history will cause coming generations to blush at the mention of such inhumanity." Does not know whom to blame for Sid's sufferings. If Lincoln had a son fighting in the army, he would be very quick to bring him home from prison. Asks them to send him some tobacco and a pair of slippers. Written at Dale General Hospital