I take my pen to write a few lines and as it is not very early in the evening you will doubtless excuse me if I do not write so much. My health is good. How is my Sula? And how is young Edwin? I am still here in the Sanitary rooms, but hope soon to be relieved and return to my regiment. I consider that the agent here in a passion used language that one gentleman should not use to another. I told him that he had better relieve me. He said that he would and I hope he will. He is quite pettish at times and has frequently snapped and snarled when I consider he did not have any good reason to. I have tried to do about right and have worked faithfully, I think, but the business that I have been part of the time engaged in is different than I have been accustomed to, and I am awkward (At this time father has a crippled left hand due to the wound received at the First Battle of Bull Run and for which he had been discharged.) but do not like to be called a fool, jackass &c. Do you blame me Sula? When you write me next please direct to my Company and regiment as I hope to be with them by that time. I received a letter form Mrs. Knapp a few days since. She had received a letter I had written to Frank and was sent there by his Company commander I suppose. She was expecting Frank home on furlough. She wrote that the town was taxed 900 dollars to buy substitutes for such men as Charles Baxter, and the other two she did not know. It seems that Baxter procured his substitute for less than three hundred dollars and pocketed the rest of his proposition. Is he not patriotic? How are Father and Mother this winter? I suppose that it is a task for them to write but if they could I would prize a letter from them higher than gold.
Sula, does your limb trouble you? I have reason to be very thankful for the rich boon of health. It is my earnest prayer that your eyesight may be restored fully, and that all your wants may be supplied. Please give my respects to the folks and write soon to your as ever
Levi Emery.
the wound referred to on the above page consisted of an injury (bullet wound) which necessitated the amputation of the ring finger of the left hand. (The wound occurred during the first battle, and most likely he was caring the rifle across in front, with left hand on the fore-stock. The one finger was three quarters amputated and the ball went into the hand, after going through the fore-stock. This is a common war injury.)
