Hospital
Leavenworth City, Jan. 18th, 1863.
Dear Wife:
I received yours of the 11th inst yesterday. I was glad to hear that you were all in good health. It is a great satisfaction to hear from you at all times. It would be yet far greater satisfaction to see you all once more in good health, but when that will be I yet have no idea. You say you look for me home notwithstanding all I write. I feat that you will look in vain for a long time, but really, I know no more about when I shall come home than you do. One thing I am quite sure of -- and that is that they may as well give me a discharge first as last, as I have not the least idea that I shall ever be able to do duty again in the service as long as they keep me in this infernal hospital. I may be discharged in a short time, and may not till spring -- and I may not then. But I think they can see by spring, and perhaps before, that I am not fit for the service. My health has not improved since I wrote you, neither am I any worse, only I have the rheumatism every change of weather. With all of my ails, that is an entirely new complaint for me to have........
It is a very lonely place here. The men all want to get away to some other place. I have no war news to write. It is said we shall get pay in a short time. I do not believe there is one half of the soldiers that have got any thing coming to them -- I speak of them in the hospital.
We have not had enough snow to whiten the ground, yet it is pretty cold. It was as cold a few days ago as I ever saw it in Wis.
I suppose you have a lot of pigs to winter and have to feed them yourself some of the time in this cold weather, but tell Edward to be a good boy and have him feed the pigs and chop the wood and feed the chickens and the cows. But he must not do it all -- Frank will help him a little I know. Edward, you must be a good boy, and so will Frank, and when I come home I shall have to give you something if you have been good boys. I expect the girls are good without my telling them to be.
I am afraid that my letters will be quite uninteresting to you, but there is a continual confusion here from morning to night, and I can't think to write all that I intend to.
Give my kindest regards to all the family, reserving at the same time your own share.
Your husband
C. N. Mumford