Lovell Genl Hospital
Portsmouth Grove, R.I.
Sept. 27, 1863

Dear Parents,
Again a few lines for I suppose you are anxious to hear from me as often as I can write. I received yours of the 13th [and] the 16th and was right glad to hear that you had nearly regained your usual health for although I am not sick I begin to know what poor health is. I am having one of my poor spells now with bloody passages of urine and a severe pain in my right side just under the lower edge of the ribs. But you must not worry on my account for I am getting so well used to it that I don’t think it hardly worth mentioning. But I must give you a brief how I got played out this time.

Last Wednesday morning my Doctor gave me an invitation to go on a fishing trip and sailing excursion and I accepted it. We crossed the bay (some twelve miles across) in a sail boat and landed at the town of Wickford and then walked into the country about five miles to a factory pond. The object of the expedition was to get some small specimens of pouts, flat fish and pickerel for the Doctor’s aquarium.

Well we had no luck and a little after sunset we started for home but not a breath of air and we expected an all nights job in getting home. I told the Doctor I should hold him responsible for my safe arrival home at roll call and he said he should punish me if was not there. So I suggested a mode of punishment which he accepted (a six day pass to come home). Well I had a huge time and the Doctor acted the boy and done all the work (I mainly went for the company). I did not walk over four miles but the Doctor found out my case more fully than he would in six months in the Hospital. But he don’t want to discharge me but keep me for Wardmaster. Well I like it some. The duty is light but I have considerable writing to do.

I received letters from Sarah and Ellen two day since all well and Sarah was talking of coming up to her cousins that lives where Rev. Dockery did. I hope I shall get my pass and be at home at the same time. If I come I shall reach Webster Thursday evening the 1st day of October on the boat train and come home on Friday. But don’t look for me to strong for in military nothing is certain. But I must close with kind regards to all and much love for yourselves.
Whitman [Bosworth]