Letter dated May 18th, 1864
May 18,1864
Fredericksburg
Dear wife
Once again I will try to write a few lines to let you know I am still alive and doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. My wounds are doing well but I am getting as poor as a snail. We fare a little better than we did at first. They say that they are sending them off as fast as they can from here to Washington and there own states. If they send me to New York I think I can get a furlough to come home but it will be some time yet if I do. Now, Ett, you must keep up good spirits and not fret about me for that won't do any good to me or you for if I should fret and worry it would make me worse, so I make the best of it and feel thankful that it is no worse and you must do the same. I don't know as it will do any good for you to write to me for I would not get it for a good while, not till I get to some regular hospital then all my old letters will be sent to me. I tell you what it is there is lots of poor fellows here and oh how they do suffer. There I can't write any more this time but will write again soon.
Yours as ever
W.W.vanAmber