Letter written by Henry Welch, corporal in the 123rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Company K, to his uncle and aunt from Cumberland Hospital, Nashville, Tennessee, November 21, 1864

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PAGE IMAGECumberland Hospital
NashvilleTenn. (Tennessee) (Nashville, Tennessee)
Nov 21st -64 Dear Uncle (Tanner, Franklin) and Aunt (Tanner, Franklin (Mrs., Polly C.)) (Tanner, Polly C. (Mrs. Franklin Tanner))

I find
myself in dixie (Dixie) once more
all right safe and sound,
I had a long and very tiresome
ride getting out here, arrived
thursday night late or friday
morning early, I could not
get admitted into the
hospital in Albany (Albany, New York) . so I
took the afternoon train
from that place and got
to Uncle Levi (Levi (Uncle)) 's about eight
o clock friday evening. I had
a very good there, saw some
pretty large cheese and
a good many cows

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PAGE IMAGE I saw one about as good
a team as I ever saw
in the army, mud too
was plenty in fact it
has been plenty every
where I have been for
a long time, I have got a
very comfortable place here
but I am awful lonesom (lonesome)
there is nothing here in
the hospital to help pass
off the time. last night
I saw a man's leg's taken
off. he was run over by the
car's both leg's were amputated
above the kneese (knees), there is
not much of a chance for
him to get well, it was a
hard sight and it
reminded me of the
awful shights (sights) I have seen
on a battle field

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PAGE IMAGE it is raining again today,
I wonder if its a rainy day
up there if it is I would
like to be up there, we
would have a grand old
visit, you know we always
could have a good visit
on a rainy day, by the way
Uncle Franklin (Tanner, Franklin) how
is the sheep trade now,
thining (thinning) [??] of course have you
made up you (your) mind to by (buy)
that sheep of Palmer (Palmer) .
when I come away I told John (Welch, John)
to send my letters to me
if any come there from the
regt. I wish you would see
him and tell him to open
them before he sends them
for I heard the reg't had
been paid and prhaps (perhaps) they
have sent the money to

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PAGE IMAGE pay me for that rifle
if so I want it taken
out before the letters are sent
to me, for the mail at the
hospital is not very shure (sure)
and it might get lost. if you
get this saturday I wish you
would see him before the
tuesday's mail goes out for
he may send them then.
I would write a longer letter
but I want to get this in
this mail so you can get it
saturday night, so you can
see John (Welch, John) before he sends my letters
accept my regards and write
soon from your Nephew

Henry Welch (Welch, Henry)

Direct to
Cumberland Hospital
Ward 5
NashvilleTenn. (Tennessee) (Nashville, Tennessee)