18 November 1862: “Now I tell you if you want to see him alive you must come shortly for he cant live long the fix he is in…”

Item Description: Letter of 18 November 1862 from Captain Arthur Walker to the father of William A. Collins, who was wounded at the Battle of Antietam and lay dying at Chimborazo Hospital No. 4 in Richmond, Va.

[Transcription available below images.]

 

Item Citation: William A. Collins Papers #5095-z, Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Richmond Nov 18th 1862

To Henry Collins

Dear Sir

I write to you to let you know how your son is. I found him to day & he is very low in spirits.  I am the first man he has seen since he came to Richmond that he knew.  he is very weak   he can’t sit up any worth speaking of   I never saw any person as glad to see me as he was.  now I tell you that you must come to see him or he will dye  if you come you can take him home with you he can get a furlough or a discharge which ever he wants   you must come or get some other person come for him for he will die certain if he has to stay where he is   you must bring him some brandy with you & you can bring him some chicken cleaned & salted for he cant eat any thing he gets in the Hospital.   If you take him home he will be to carry from one car to an other & you must bring him a pair shoes for his has been stolen from him.   Now I tell you if you want to see him alive you must come shortly for he cant live long the fix he is in but he sais he is getting better & I think he will get better if he had company come soon

Your respectfully,

Arthur Walker

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One Response to 18 November 1862: “Now I tell you if you want to see him alive you must come shortly for he cant live long the fix he is in…”

  1. Katherine Parker-Lowe says:

    THANK YOU