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� Maine Hospital May 21 1861

    Dear Wife
                  I sit down a few moments to write

you a few lines to let you know about a soldier life we fared hard enough when I was up home I returned to camp that day I left home I found the comany camping out souldier like with half enough to eat I staid to the camp two nights without any supper and could not get any the third day I made out to get a little supper the fourth day I was detached from the company by the surgeon to take the Ward master Berth the two first nights I was here I slept on the floor with nothing over nor under me except any cloths I had on I got a cold that I shall cary to the grave with me I have just been able to do duty here and that is all Dr Richardson our Surgeon is one of the finest men in the world and he favours me very much or I could not get along he wants me to go with him as long as he goes but I have got soldiering enough now to last me the remainder of my life time I shall not stay only my three months out any how tell Mabine & Lyman I would write to them but I do not have time to tell them to