Valentine G. Barney to Maria Barney
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I got your letter containing the check yesterday and it was very acceptably received as the Ten you sent me before was about used up.
I am getting along very well and this morning got up and put my clothes on and
went out to the Breakfast Table. I am entirely free from fever but the jaundice
is hold of me and the Doctor says he never saw any one worse or more yellow than
I am I came out in Blotches all over and O. how I itch and I have to use the
salt
and water very freely or I would scratch myself to pieces very
soon the Dr. says it will be some time before I will get all right again but
then the disease is simple and there is no trouble My appetite is poor and
things all taste about the same to me and will continue to as long as I have the
Jaundice so bad. My living is mostly Milk, Toast and baked Apples with a little
Oyster Soup I wish you could see my eyes they look more like a couple of sun
flowers than any thing I can think of I shall not be in a very great fret to get
back to the Company but will
play off for a while even if I do feel
perfectly well and let them get along as best they can. The Col. has detailed a
Lieut from another company to stay with it while I am away Sgt Whitmore is now
sick and threatened with Typhoid Fever. I believe I never told you about the
death of Chas Crook a member of my Co. since we came here I believe there has 12
died out of the regt since we came here, and lots are abt half sick with
Jaundice but it does not prove fatal to any I believe. The N.Y. Regts are
preparing to leave for their own state and there is some talk of our going to Vt
but I dont place much reliance on it yet and would
wonder if we
remained here all winter. if we do I think I will try and get a leave of absence
by and by for a few days and make you a short visit but no knowing what will
take place and it is hard to make calculations ahead even for a day. I think I
have got along first rate with my sickness and you will feel rejoiced as well as
I. I want to see you very much and those little treasures and O how happy we
will live when one more permitted to be together in peace and love I hope you
are comfortable and well for the coming write Give my love to all the family and
receive mine undivided forever
Val