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Upon a few of these hospitals I have been almost daily calling as a missionary, on my own account, for

On recurring to my note-book, I am puzzled which cases to select to illustrate the average of these young

time never have been excuse from any duty whatever and having urgent business at home which demands my

I had my plan fixed up as I wanted it and left it with some three or four carpenters and got bids on

it. much to my astonishment I found that what I was supposed would cost at 11 or $1200 could not be done

I think that I have a good bargain in my lot if I can manage to hold on to it.

indirect approach by instructing his brother in a letter from March 18, 1863, thus: "Jeff, you must give my

About what is called the Conscript Bill (an improper name) I hope and pray from the bottom of my heart

every man in the land—I would like to see the people embodied en-masse —I am very sure I shall see that my

name is in its place on the lists, and my body in the ranks, if they do it that way—for that will be

With my office-hunting, no special result yet. I cannot give up my Hospitals yet.

I never before had my feelings so thoroughly and (so far) permanently absorbed, to the very roots, as

got lost I am more on the alert and mention them)— The poor Frenchman d'Almeida I told you about in my

Mother, my heart bleeds at all sorts of such damnable things of one kind or another I meet with every

He had held the rank of captain since November 1, 1862, and after the war he attempted unsuccessfully

to secure a commission as a captain in the regular standing army (Jerome M.

machine, and that I must consign myself to the fate of the rest....Meantime I make about enough to pay my

My Dear Sir : On my return, a few days since, from a long Western journey, I found your note respecting

go to-day to Montreal to be gone a week, and I have found quite tyrannical necessities at home for my

Of the O'Connors, Thomas Jefferson Whitman wrote on June 13, 1863: "I am real glad, my dear Walt, that

there from Saturday night until Monday morning before any train left I dont think I ever was so sick in my

with your office I am in hopes you have recd it before this time I begun to think that your office & my

discharge had gone to the same place now I have got my papers I think you had ought to receive yours

I cant write any more this time my hand trembles so I can hardly write but I will try & do better next

time give my best respects to Mr & Mrs O Connor.

Of the O'Connors, Thomas Jefferson Whitman wrote on June 13, 1863: "I am real glad, my dear Walt, that

I would offer, as an illustration of my meaning, that, in times of peace, a slightly greater ratio of

The Hospitals still engross a large part of my time and feelings—only I don't remain so long and make

It comes from a bad cold, gathering I think in my head.

Things here are just the same with me, neither better nor worse—(I feel so engrossed with my soldiers

, I do not devote that attention to my office-hunting, which is needed for success.)

Jeff, you must give my best respects to Mr. and Mrs.

They have taken up my principal time and labor for some months past.

I always carry some, cut up in small plugs, in my pocket.

I thought I would include in my letter a few cases of soldiers, especially interesting, out of my note-book

, but I find my story has already been spun out to sufficient length.

Nor do I find it ended by my doing some good to the sick and dying soldiers.

you may think he is not very well i am sorry walt your head is no better how bad it must b e good by my

neck, draws my face down, &c. quite a scene for the New Bowery.)

My beard, neck, &c. are woolier, fleecier, whiteyer than ever.

Now you write to me good long letters, my own boys.

This room is up on the fifth floor, (a most noble and broad view from my window.)

Fred, I wish you to present my best respects to your father.

John Frederick Schiller Gray was a captain in the Twentieth New York Infantry and later held the same

.On May 1, 1863, Gray excused his neglect in replying because of his military duties and "bothering my

brain with the detestable clerical duties incidental to my position": "I have just come from my Mother

, who, together with my Father, desires to be kindly remembered to you. . . .I lead a very different

I'm damned if I wouldn't have given up all my hopes in the future to have had you and my little girl

If you do not use them, and you dont think George will want them for the present, (my reason for thinking

Everything in the way of eating and wearing is awful high, but I manage to make enough to keep my head

John Frederick Schiller Gray was a captain in the Twentieth New York Infantry and later held the same

Mother, when you or Jeff writes again, tell me if my papers & MSS are all right—I should be very sorry

ground is an inch and a half deep with snow—and it is snowing & drizzling—but I feel very independent in my

I have felt quite well of my deafness and cold in my head for four days or so, but it is back again bad

Dear mother, I wrote the above, in my room—I have now come down to Major Hapgood's office.

I find a good letter from one of my New York boys, (Fifth Avenue)—a young fellow named Hugo Fritsch,

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.

On March 17, Captain Whitman left Brooklyn to return to Newport News.

I find them of great use in giving me ideas about my business and they are too cursed costly to buy  

letter to his mother, Louisa Van Velsor Whitman: "Mother, when you or Jeff writes again, tell me if my

He wrote in a letter dated May 14, 1863, "my profoundest help to these sick & dying men is probably the

I immediately appealed to my lady friends and patriots in Philadelphia, and they have sent me on a fine

I have never had better health in my life, perhaps I can explain it to you.

My regards to them and hope they are out of Campbell Hospital. What became of poor Dick?

[April 6, 1863] [Dear Brother Walt,] As I was abt putting these in the envelope my eye caught this blank

much of a beauty as ever…well, not only as much, but more so—I believe I weigh about 200 and as to my

face, (so scarlet,) and my beard and neck, they are terrible to behold…like a great wild buffalo, with

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, had just published for the U.S.

Lane concerning Captain Mullan (see also Jeff's letter to Walt from April 20, 1863).

It is said the government purposes something of this kind—it will throw a good many captains & lieutenants

Mother, you tell him I sent him my love, and Nancy the same, and the dear little boys the same.

I find I have to restrain myself and keep my composure—I succeed pretty well.

Give my best respects to Dr. Ruggles.

3—I have been in my room all day, so far—shall have dinner in ½ an hour, and then down to Armory.

I find them of great use in giving me ideas about my business and they are too cursed costly to buy."

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.

April 20th 1863 Dear Walt, I was glad to hear—from your letter to mother—that you had received my letters—containing

Captain John Mullan (1830–1909), an army engineer, was associated with General Isaac I.

Lew is so good, so affectionate—when I came away, he reached up his face, I put my arm around him, and

As to me, there is nothing new with me, or my affairs.

I manage to pay my way here in Washington, what I make writing letters for the New York papers, &c.

My love you have in life or death forever.

Good bye, my darling comrade, my dear darling brother, for so I will call you, and wish you to call me

However, on April 12, 1863, Sawyer himself had written to Brown: "I want you to give my love to Walter

Whitman and tell him I am very sorry that I could not live up to my Prommice because I came away so

soon that it sliped my mind and I am very sorry for it, tell him that I shall write to him my self in

a few days, give him my love and best wishes for ever" (Henry W. and Albert A.

reply until January 21, 1864: "Dear Brother, I hardly know what to say to you in this letter for it is my

Hotel, Lexington Ky April 22d/63 Dear Brother Jeff You may think im'e rather putting on style, heading my

If my letters home don't show it, you don't get 'em.

enough to eat & drink, and shelter, in the moderatest limits) any more, since the last four months of my

I was sorry you did not come up to my room to get the shirt & other things you promised to accept from

O my dear comrade & brother, I hope it will prove your good luck to come safe through all the engagements

Now, my dearest comrade, I will bid you so long , & hope God will put it in your heart to bear toward

It is [my] sincere wish that Johny Makey will survive the operation and ultimately recover.

Yes my dear Brother, You have my friendship as fully as you can desire, and I hope we will meet again

Having nothing more of importance to communicate, I will conclude with my best wishes for your health

My health is some better than it was when I left the Hospital, but I am not well by a good deal and I

would take 10 cts I send in this letter & get me ten copies of the Eagle with it in—put in 5 more of my

Give my respects to Mr. & Mrs. Brown. Tell Jeff I am going to write to Mr.

If my letters home don't show it, you don't get 'em.

Matty, I send you my best love, dear sister—how I wish I could be with you one or two good days.

Give him my love—& tell Mannahatta her Uncle Walt is living now among the sick soldiers.

Lane promised to "make an effort among my friends here to keep you supplied with funds all summer."

—have a pretty bad cold, the doctor does not call my disease by any particular name—I have considerable

I send you my love.

I would have stood on my dig some time longer if George had not brought some religious remarks to bear

wensday Wednesday morning My dear Walt i have just got your letter with the shinplasters dident didn't

you get my letter when mary was here saying i got the other there is no letters miscarries that is directed

here i think i have had another attack of the rheumatism but not much in my hands so i can use them

but in my neck and shoulders i had not A very good night last night but am better this morning i am in

here the same morning he returnd returned poor man he said you was very kind to him indeed good bie my

In his April 19, 1863 letter from Winchester, Kentucky, Greenback wrote, "Captain Whitman is ordered

The pseudonym "Greenback" may be a pun: Captain Whitman, the one sending the greenbacks (dollars) to

My very dear Friend, Finally I find time and quiet to write you—I beseech you be not angry at what may

on the other hand, to affirm that during this time I had thought it better, influenced, perhaps, by my

duties incidental to my position.

I have just come from my Mother, who, together with my Father, desires to be kindly remembered to you

hopes in the future to have had you & my little girl with me then.

requesting ten copies of the Daily Eagle, Walt asked Jeff in a letter dated April 28, 1863 for "5 more of my

Hart, a captain and acting assistant adjutant general in Company K of the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers

I want Han to come home, from the bottom of my heart.

I have almost made up my mind to do what I can personally, & not seek assistance from others.

I have very little time tis true, yet I endeavor by writing rapidly to have time to keep up my correspondence

Have I not my hands full by the way you wish to know what Jones Hotel is.

I send my Photo and shall expect one of the Prince of Bohemia by return I will write in a few days.

My main object is to ask you if you can possibly hear anything of Lane's nephew (or boy as he calls him

I had certainly made up my mind that we should meet with partial success certainly, but it seems otherwise

Cotrel, Nicholas Wyckoff, & Thomas Sullivan, for my poor men here in hospital.

My health, thank God, was never better—I feel strong & elastic—an obstinate cold & deafness some weeks

Richmond & Jeff Davis, by this short but tremendous little campaign, of 2d, 3d, 4th & 5th inst's, is in my

Love & thanks to you, dear friend, & to those who are aiding my boys.

I had certainly made up my mind that we should meet with partial success certainly, but it seems otherwise

The blow struck at Lee & the rebel sway in Virginia, & generally at Richmond & Jeff Davis, …is in my

Dearest Mother, I am late with my letter this week—my poor, poor boys occupy my time very much—I go every

Dear brother, I wish you to say to Probasco & all the other young men on the Works, I send them my love

again—I myself do not give up Hooker yet— Dear mother, I should like to hear from Han, poor Han—I send my

letters)—some like to have me feed them (wounded perhaps in shoulder or wrist) perhaps a few bits of my

succoring of the stomach (which is of course most welcome & indispensable) I should say that I believe my

I have formed attachments here in hospital, that I shall keep to my dying day, & they will the same,

Hooker managed things so nicely in crossing the river, and getting a good position, that I about made up my

I wrote to Han yesterday, (before I received this letter of Heyde's), I wrote a short letter of my own

new ones, I could not find any one to do them as I wear them, & it would have cost such a price—& so my

they were too thick & more still because they were worse gone in than any I ever yet wore I think in my

life, especially the trowsers—wearing my big boots had caused the inside of the legs just above the

same as what I always wear, (pants pretty full,) so upon the whole all looks unusually good for me, my

had it here, as I must have a trunk—but do not wish you to send it, until I send you word—I suppose my

May 27th 1863 Walt Whitman My Dear Friend Enclosed I send you ten dollars.

This is my contribution $5. per month, and is for the months of April and May.

My thoughts are with you often enough, & I make reckoning when we shall one day be together again—yet

a letter was received by me April 28th, (very pretty written)—but I have not heard whether you got my

I enclosed in it an envelope with my address on, in hopes you would write to me.

There is no particular change in my affairs here—I just about manage to pay my way, with newspaper correspondence

My dearest comrade, I cannot, though I attempt it, put in a letter the feelings of my heart—I suppose

May 29th/63 Dear Mother My last letter home, was written from Lancaster and dated somewhere about the

get as far in the State, as Liberty, without our hearing of it. and I dident like the idea of loseing my

you a few lines to let you now that I am well and have got safe to the regment and I have bin to see my

famley they are well wee are all m[o]unted an wee have got the pras of the finest regment in these pats My

Captain Francis M.