Franklin County: Samuel M. Potter to Cynthia Potter,
December 15, 1862
Summary:
Potter describes the work of the hospital staff and expresses a longing to attend
church regularly again.
Cynthia Potter
12/15/62
Camp Casey
Dear Cynthia
Yours came safe to hand. I was in Washington the day before & got the Express Agent to send on to Wheeling for the box, but I am glad you took it back to take out what was spoiled. Could Polly Harvey put in her mince pies this time. You need not send more than one pair of socks now as I got 1 good pair from Mother & 2 good pair from Uncle Sam which are done already & I got a good pair a day or two ago of very good ones. I told James Doughtery to tell you to send the box to S.M. Potter Washington D.C. in care of Surgeon of 16th Pa Cavalry. I want you to take the best care of yourself as the care of your health is a duty which you must faithfully perform. The letter Mr. Roney sent never came & I think you sent a letter I never got as Mary wrote to me about Uncle Johns boys. She say she said something about them in a letter she sent. This one was lost I expect. We have 9 patients in the Hospital now & we sent some a day or two ago to the General Hospital in Washington City. What my pay will be I do not know yet as the paymaster has not been around yet. I suppose about $20 twenty dollars a month. I think I told you what my duties are. There are two stewards of us. One Dr. Carey Ainevah Green Co. attends to the writing reports & outdoor duty. My duty is to attend to the drugs to put up medicines for the sick. See to their nursing diet &C. We both do whatever comes to hand towards helping one another. Our first Surgeons name is Gominger of Philadelphia. He has been out for about 18 months & understands his business well. The second Surgeon is from Philadelphia too. A young Dutchman very good. You have not been to church for some time. Well I have not either since we left Camp Curtis. Yesterday was the quietest Sabbath Day we have had since we have come here. I still entertain the hope that we will have the privilege of going to the House of God together & enjoying ourselves in all the blessings he sends to us. Well Mary I thought when I left home my office stove would be of no use but it is well I left it up. I find it is needed yet. Well let it stay up, as long as it is of use. I would like to have the privilege of going to church as often as you do. We have no Chaplain for our Reg. yet & likely will have none. As one Company is gone to the Chain Bridge to guard & two more are ordered to go to Centerville probably we will be split up. We have a Company to vaccinate this afternoon which will keep us busy for awhile. Cynthia I want you to get some good matter & vaccinate all the children & Jimmy Sloan Potter too. Be sure & see to it. Maybe you could get some good matter from Dr. Davidson to do it with. Josey, Lucy & Bell will let you make a picture in their arms & be good children too. I know they will take good care of you too Cynthia & the children I want to go home someday to enjoy your company. Dreams pass away with the morn. I want to enjoy the reality once more. I have nothing at present except I still enjoy good health & hope you may be in the enjoyment of the same. Give my love to the children & all friends.
No more at present but remain your affectionate husband
S.M. Potter
