William Wirt Henry to Mary Jane Henry
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I have not had a chance to send a letter to you for the last two weeks for we
have been on the moove most all the time. besides I could not write myself if
there had been a chance, for as soon as we commenced to move my hand was worse,
so I could not use it at all, but it is much better now and I guess I shall take
command of the Regiment again in a few days. I began to think for a few days
that I should loose my right hand, my finger discharged very much and looked
bad, but it is all
right now. We have made another grand flank
moovement the fifth since we crossed the Rapid Ann - and in all have been
successful. From all I can learn back here at the Hospital we have had very good
success in the vicinity of Petersburgh, and as I am writing you now the cannon
are booming up that way also up the James river towards Fort Darling We are
laying on the bank of the Appomattox river about three miles from its mouth
towards Petersburgh, but the Regiment is over the river in the vicinity of
“Burmuda hundred”. The papers will tell
you all the grand things,
that the Grand Army of the Patomac have done since I wrote you last. You will
find the best account in the “Tribune” also you will find a grand discript- -ion
of our battle at “Cold Harbor” I hope you got my letters in good season, so you
did not borrow trouble about my being wounded for I see the Washington Chronicle
had me killed, and the Boston Journal had me hit in the Head, most of the other
papers had it correct that I have seen. I have only received one letter from you
since the 1st of June, but there is a big mail due which I
we shall
get tomorrow and if I do get a letter and have a chance to send one out I will
write you again, and will go at my writing twice a week again if my finger will
permit. It has been awful sore, and pained me very much,
and they ought to have let me go home 15 days. Genl. Ricketts applied for 15
days for me but the medical director of the Corps Dr. Hollman would not approve
it so I did not go, but you can see how near I came to going; it all rested with
that one man. Oh! how I did want to go and how I hoped I
could and surprise you, but I suppose it was all for the best, in some way which
I cannot see yet. Love to all
As ever William
[Tracing of Henry’s right hand with the finger amputated]
The way my
hand looks now Surgeon Rutherford was the artist