Read Family Correspondence

(transcriptions only)

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Document Type: Autograph Letter Signed

Author: Thomas Griffin Read
Date: May 6, 1864
Place: Hospital, Orange County, Virginia
To: Martha White Read

Physical Description: Ink on paper; 4 pages (20 x 12 cm) on 1 folded sheet

Note: Note in pencil in unidentified hand (page 4): "Letter from T.G.R. written next day after he was wounded, May 5. 1864"

Number: MSN/CW 5015-17

Transcription
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Page 1 Images: 150 DPI – 100 DPI – 72 DPI

Hospital Orange County Va
May 6th 1864
Dear wife

with pleaser I write you a few lins to let you no where I am and how I am getten along I must tell you that the fite commence a bout the middel of the day yesterday I was in it and got wonded I got wonded in the left thy nere the hip the ball cam out a gane the dockter thinks.
Dear M., the above has just been written by one of the comp. who is here with me, & was slightly wounded; my leg has been paining me so that, at first, I thought I wouldn't be able to write but I find I can do it by taking time as the above states, the fight [i.e., the Wilderness] began about 12 or 1 o'clock yesterday (the 5th) I was wounded after being in about 3/4 hour being struck while sitting down loading I suffered great pain yesterday, but today it is much easier. Dr. McGuire

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said the ball had lodged & I didn't know better till today when Dr. Henkel coming by I had him called to see me, he came in, looked at it, ran his finger in the hole, & felt around to find out whether the ball was in, but he concluded that it was not, & thinks it rebounded; I would be glad if it is the case, as I would dislike having one taken out. The ball penetrated about inch & a half, or two inches, striking on the side of the leg. Dr. Henkel told me it was not a dangerous wound, & Mr. Howard (hospital steward) said it was just a good furlough wound, & I have the pleasure of thinking that in a few days I will get home, or think so as I've heard that the wounded from the Valley will go to Staunton, & that the most of them will get off as it is some 20 miles to Orange C.H. I think we may get off tomorrow eve-

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ning, or next day & perhaps get home Tuesday, or Wednesday, but I can't tell, as there are so many Yankee wounded, as well as our own men. But, I must tell you - best of all that so far we have been victorious & today it has been reported that the enemy have fallen - we have not heard much fighting today; there are several wounded of our comp. but none killed, several were killed of the Regt. & good many wounded; Capt. Schuler [i.e., Captain Michael Shuler, Company H, 33rd Virginia Infantry] was killed dead, & Col. Spengler [i.e., Lt. Colonel Abraham Spengler] was wounded, also Col. Randolph [i.e., Colonel William Randolph] of the 2nd regt. was killed, major Frasier [i.e., Lt. Colonel Philip F. Frazer] of the 27th was mortally wounded, Gen Jones [i.e., Brigadier General John M. Jones] of the 2nd Brig. was killed, the fighting was severe thank God I came out as well as I did; if the ball had not been spent some, where it struck it would have shattered my thigh to pieces but

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through the great mercy of God, I am alive, & doing better than I expected But I will close for this time hoping to see you soon in the mean time, let us praise God for his goodness, & mercy to us, sinners, undeserving as we are. Please write a few lines to N.M. [i.e., New Market] to let them know how I am Love to all

Yours affectionately,
T.G.R.

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Transcription last modified: 01 Mar 2007 at 01:36 PM EST

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