Hammond, Horace J. to Eleanor Hammond
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09273.30 Author/Creator: Hammond, Horace J. Place Written: City Point, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 27 February 1865 Pagination: 4 p. ; 21 x 13.7 cm. Order a Copy
Health is "first rate," and leg is well. Weather is nice right now, and hopes this letter finds her well. Sent her two letters, each with $20 in them. Will send some more money by express soon. Does not need more than $5, and if he does, he will ask for some from her. Would have sent all the money by express, but did not learn until today that he could send any of it by express. Is now acting as commissary sergeant. Has to go to the brigade headquarters and draw rations for the company, then has to cook them. "Keeps me very busy." Received a letter from her this morning. Every day rebels desert and come through the camp's picket line. Glad that Leonard and Betsey have returned, so she will not be as lonely. John is at City Point and is getting better. Before that, he had been in Washington and Baltimore and had managed to get his "canteen filled with whisky." John also had a rendezvous with a prostitute for $1, but Hammond is very much uninterested in such an idea. Would much rather be faithful to his wife, "if I should stay away 3 years or 20 years." Would like to see Matilda and Charles very much. Is not sorry that he left to fight, and does not want to come home on a furlough. Left because he feared he would be drafted.
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