Dear Parents,

You will no doubt be surprised to find that I am in the General Hospital at Washington but it is so.    I was but six days in camp when I was taken with the fever, Ague.  I have shook the flesh all off my bones.  I had dreadful pains in my bowels.  They were so sore that I could not press them at all.   They were pottiest several times which took the soreness out.  I have not had the shakes so hard for a couple days.  Yesterday was the first day I have been out.  Today I thought I felt steady enough to write.  I haven’t eat scarcely anything till within a few days.  I have took quinine for medicine.  I took them all within a few days.  I have about twenty big powders on hand and I think I am like to have suffered dreadfully but I think I shall get along now.  I expect every day to be sent further North.

I don’t think of anymore to write.  I wrote to you as soon as I got back to the battery.  I have received no answer.

Goodbye for this time,