Ward D
Jarvis USA Gen’l Hospital
Baltimore, MD
Jan 3rd AD 1865
Once more I will try and answer your letter. I would have done it before but have been somewhat busy preparing for the holidays. We had considerable of a time here yesterday- a big dinner by the way a few turkeys & hams, venison & every thing necessary to gratify and satisfy a man’s appetite & lots of ladies to wait upon us. I still continue well, consequently I could enjoy my dinner fully. In the evening we had a concert by the brass band of the 8th US Infantry & singing by some gentlemen of this city & some comic performances & recitative by Brig Gen’l Hayward[2]. He is a bully fellow for fun. I laughed enough to kill a common man dead. I expect there will be another general examination of men for the front soon, perhaps today. Who will have to go is more than I can tell. I don’t care much about it though I can go if I am called for. My Capt. wants me to come to the company but I can’t see it unless I am ordered & have to go. Sometimes I am provoked enough to go but soon get over it.
Hank how different I passed New Year’s day 1865 from 1864. You will recall to mind where we were then. If my minds serves me right we were in Room #7 Annis House, DeRuyter, Madison Co NY. I only wished I could have formed one of the 4 then & there assembled. We could have had a bully time once more I think unless people have changed wonderfully since I saw them last & judging from this letter I should say they have not. I am the same except in age, I am about the same size- weigh 178 pounds, seven pounds less than a year ago.
I hope this will find you in good spirits & recovered from your injuries received some time since & able to visit the young ladies as often as usual. It would be mighty pleasant to sit by the side of some fair young lady & talk a little small talk for a brief hour or two, think you? Boy could I not enjoy it! I reckon I could, at least I had before now. I intend to try if I can (if I remain in Jarvis) get leave of absence 25 or 30 days to visit my friends and will try to enjoy myself if I can. Will call on you sure. In the meantime you must be sure and keep everything in running order. Take good care of the ladies. Give the special ones my love. I wrote to the partner of your joys and sorrows some time since but have not received an answer yet. I don’t know upon the whole as you allow her to write to soldiers in the army especially hospital beats like me but I will write to her that will do as nice. I suppose she has but little time to herself I expect from what I hear you occupy a heap of her time. I scarcely ever receive a letter from Miss Rand[3] but she says that you and Carrie[4] are sitting in the other room sparking or enjoying yourselves or you have no business to be together she says.
I will close. Write soon. My respects to all enquiring friends & your family.
From your friend,
Tom[5]
[1] Henry Backman born about 1831 in Wayne Co, NY to Abram & Catherine Backman
[2] There was no Brig Gen Hayward that I can find, perhaps he means Brig Gen Oliver Otis Howard?
[3] Erranda Wibert born 4 Nov 1846 in Galen died 2 Mar 1932. Rand wed Thomas Akenhead later this same year.
[4] Caroline Wibert born in Mar 1844 in Galen, Wayne Co, NY to George M. & Julia A. Wibert. She and Henry Backman married in 1866.
[5] Thomas Akenhead born July 1838 to Thomas & Florinda Akenhead in Wayne County, NY. He enlisted 22 Dec 1863, serving in the 1st NY Cavalry
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