Philadelphia, May 15, 1864.
Dearest Abiah,
Here I am yet. This is Sunday. Henry Ward Beecher teaches near here, but notwithstanding my anxiety to
hear him I have not done it. There has a large number of wounded arrived in the city this morning. I went to the Baltimore depot to see them, but the crowd was so great that I could not get near. I saw in the ambulances as they passed, some I knew but they were all recruits, and knew but little about the old boys. I had quite a chat with one man, a recruit, who has left Brattleboro since I came from there, wounded very severely in the ankle. I walked by the side of the ambulance. He told me that a great many Vermont boys were with along, but he had not been in the army long enough to know the men.
I can hear nothing about the 10th Regt. Perhaps Zopher may be in this city now. If he is, I know of no chance of knowing it, as there are many hospitals. Some of them are out of the city, some in West Philadelphia, that is across the Schuykill. I have just got back from the depot. It was a long way. I have received no letter from you since I came here. Do write so that I can hear from you before I leave here in one week from next Wednesday. Where I am to go I know not. I have had no orders to report anywhere. I have seen two men that belonged to Company B. “Oh, Co. B, you are played out now.” If I get permission to go before the Casey Board at Washington that will cover the time after the expiration of the furlough. I am somewhat fearful of not passing here, as the time is so short, and they do not mean to pass a man here that is not sure to pass in Washington. If I do not pass here I shall have to report to the regiment. I should not have come here if I had known that I could not have got an extension of my furlough. It is necessary to pass a examination in Geography, Arithmetic, Modern and Ancient History. I ought to review them. There is as much in military as I can handle. If I only pass here, I shall have to wait sometime before my turn will come. There is another thing. There has now been more passed than there are places, for after passing, the board have to report to the regiment until the commission arrives and the great events that are now occurring may end the war soon.
I have just been out. One of the boarders said that there were several ambulances passing up 11th St. to Chestnut Hill Hospital. Went. Saw no countenance that I knew, but I must tell you what I did see. The people ran out of their houses all along the street with orange, lemons, cakes and all such kind of things. All these men that arrive are able to sit up, or at least to hold up their heads. I do not think there is such
another city in the Union as Philadelphia. They cannot do too much for a soldier. You can guess how I felt when I saw those war worn and wounded veterans, and here I am, myself all snug and safe. If I had known that I could have gone to the front, I should not have touched a furlough until I had at least smelt the battle. Our boys are there fighting I hear. I shall send you the newspapers, for perhaps you do not get the news. I must close, so good by.
Your affectionate husband,
Charles.
