CIVIL War Soldier Letter Suffolk Virginia Hospital Diet Details 1865

An Original Civil War Letter from a soldier in the Army Hospital at Suffolk, Virginia, February 25, 1865 to "My Dear Wife, " in which he relates that he has received her brief letters and has responded but is at a loss to give her any news so will describe his life at the hospital. The food was expensive except for oysters, his ration was now a little slice of dry bread and meat and weak coffee. His dinner was tough roast beef and dry bread, and a little soup, but he could not make out what kind and was unable to eat it so gave it to his comrades. For supper ration he was given a little sour apple sauce, and again, 2 slices of dry bread and coffee. He reports he fared much better at Portsmouth where he got butter, molasses and fresh bread.

It is petty rough but he gets along by patience- nothing to think about but food and getting home, he and comrades eat on thin plates with no knife or fork but with our fingers and his old pocket knife. There is no table, the food sets on your lap. He wishes he were back with his Company, with plenty off vittles with soft bread, no hard tack, good coffee and plenty of it. The letter appears to end here and is unsigned. 4pp 8 x 5 ink.

General Orders and other imprints. All items are unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic and in the condition as described.

I have been a longtime member of the Company of Military Historians, the New England Antique Arms Association, the Ephemera Society of America & the Civil War Veterans Historical Assn. I SELL ONLY ORIGINAL ITEMS.

PLEASE READ DETAILS OF THE ITEM DESCRIPTION. I TRY TO DESCRIBE ALL ITEMS ACCURATELY.

---