Darnestown, Maryland
Camp Lyon
September 23, 1861
My Dear Wife,
I now take my pen to let you know that I am still in the hospital but I can’t get home for they won’t let me come. I have asked them to let me come twice and all the answer that I can get is that they want to keep me a little longer. But I can’t see why they want to keep me for my leg is so bad that I can’t walk on it. But I hope that you are well so that you can write for I have not heard from home for a long time. I have wrote four letters since I got one from home.
I want you to write as soon as you get this for we have been paid off and I have sent money home and I want to know if you have got it and I wish that you would give Mr. Lyons my respects and tell him that I will try to answer his letter as soon as I can. Give my love to Mother and all the girls. Tell them that I would like to see them all.
We shall start for Washington soon. We are to be artillerymen and have got to hold an advanced position on Arlington Heights for we are the first three-year’s men so we are to be put ahead of the rest. Our new Colonel [Robert Ogden Tyler] is one of the best of men for he tried to have the men have their rights. I wish that I had strength to write more but I can’t. So good night to my dear little wife.
From your ungrateful husband, — Chet
Spared & Shared 20 