Name/Title
Belden Letter, 1864Entry/Object ID
2021.23.4Tags
1860s, Military, Civil WarScope and Content
Letter to Nancy Belden from her brother Isaac Austin from a hospital in Paducah, Kentucky. Sent before he was captured by the confederacy.
"Paducah. Kentucky 1864
Hospital. No. 1. Jan the. 21.
My. Dear sister I am quite wel to
day wel for me and hope these
few lines will find you al well
I take but litle comfort only when
I am riting to some one of my
friends or reading If my wife
was living that would comfort
me I would have one to comfort
me in my hours of trouble
some one to look after my children
they have got good places but that
is not like a Mother of a Father
to look after them you now thta
it troubles me in the situation I am
in I have not don any duty for
seven or eight months and it will
be that more before I do unles
I feal beter than I do now I
have uplide for a discharge I
dont now how I wil make out
(upside down) to N. A. Belden
I think my chance is favorable
some times men are discharged
for les than ales me when at
hanes bluff I had the chil feever
and was lying in my bed on
the ground with the feever and
there came a tremendus rain storm
the flud came ran over my bed
and me in it than I had to sleep
al night in the wet bed I have
not ben well since I caught a
cold and it has setled al over my
frame now you wil ask why
slept in the wet bead than I wil
ask you whare a man could find
a dry bed on a batle field and
I was ful of calomel and quinene
it was a wonder it did not kill me
it would if I was not as tuff as
a mule onley for that I am as good
as ever I was there has ben e soldiers
frozen hear this winter snow is one
foot deep on the levle. Isaac Austin"Acquisition
Accession
2021.23Source or Donor
Belden, SteveLocation
Location
Container
Civil WarRoom
ArchivesBuilding
Morgan History CenterDate
October 18, 2021Notes
Folder: Belden LettersRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Belden, Nancy Austin, Austin, Isaac