John McCoy, letter, to Martha McCoy, 1864 July 2

As I yesterday morning put my name on the sick report. and after wards attended at the Doctors tent where I went through the usual ordeal of an examination. My mouth was all canker in the inside and also my throat for whoh the Doctor prescribed caustic to remove the yellowish matturated flesh. and a gargle of something similar to cleanse the parts where the caustic roar pencil could not approach. I tell you it was harsh usage for John. but hold on about 6.o.clock last night I took a severe pain in th my left eye unequal to any of the kind I ever suffered before and an examination this morning I found the white of my eye had changed to the color of smoked Beef. I went to

the Doctor at the usual hour this morning and got examined again he gave ^me^ a large pill to begin with. then ordered me to be cuped on the back of the neck in two places and two Blisters one at the back of each ear this being done I was marked light duty, that is answer your name at Roll Call so you see today I have nothing to do but sit in my tent think of Home and be lonesome and write you a little nonsense to pass away the time. I sent you 40 dollars on the 21st June by Express (Adams & CO) the certificate ^and insurance^ only holds good for thirty days you will pay attention to it and write me the moment you get it. as my application for indemn-ity must be made within the specified time. it was all I could spare you after doing Justice to my self. we were only paid up to 1st May yesterday we were mustered in for two months pay more we expect to get it soon

and perhaps some of the Bounty. the day I get it. it will be for warded to you. I am very sorry the Green Bucks is so bad it is not my fault Buy plenty of provisions. if you can get a good heifer 2 years old buy her [gap: hole][guess (JPB): for] Beef the Tallow you will need the hide will bring cash and the B[gap: hole] will come cheaper you will need the pig besides I want you to live ^as^ well as you can the quicker you buy the heifer the Better— I want you in particular to wear good comfortable cloathing and eat good substantial healthy victuals and in fact buy as long as you have a dollar anything that will Keep you healthy and comfortable- while I am writing Mercury stands at 106 in the shade - the next pay I send home (and I hope soon) it will be alberts turn for a present it was the little girls this time which you will see in a former letter. I have written to you

since I sent you the money in fact there is 4 before this Viz: June 6th, Do 13th, Do,19th, Do,23d— all is quiet here Just now there is some little incidents worthy of note but I am sick of Yankee Gas [gap: hole]Petersburgh is a hard nut to Cra[gap: hole] and I am very much afraid the 2d Mass will get some of their heads cracked before the ^illegible^ play is over if all the storeys that emenates from head quarters be true- I will send you my likeness soon I would have sent it before this only for my cheek and now my lips — -give my, love to all the children poor things the are like a boat without a rudder, remember me to all my fathers family & the Blacks, Meredy Aunt Ann Sarah and all the rest