Archive Record

Images

1 of 1977

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Metadata

Catalog Number

XI.1.2.2019.029.43

Collection

Hazzard Family Collection

Object Name

Letter

Title

Letter from Thomas D. Hazzard to Joseph H. Hazzard

Scope & Content

Thomas Davis Hazzard writes a letter to his brother describing to him his injury from the Battle of Gettysburg and his current condition. He says that that mini ball that he was shot with is still in his leg and he can no longer bend his knee without it hurting him. Hazzard tells his brother about his new wife Nellvenia. She is from a plantation owning family from Savannah, GA, but she has an uncle in Philadelphia and New York City. He calls her strong and industrious. In this letter Hazzard includes that he is expecting to be discharged from the army in the coming April of 1864.

Dates of Creation

November 17, 1863

Date

November 17, 1863

Notes

This letter is addressed to "Brother." All of Thomas D. Hazzard's letters are addressed to "Brother," in reference to Joseph H. Hazzard.

The full transcription of the letter is as follows:

No 1
Camp. Convlascent [Convalescent] Alexandre [Alexandria]
Va [Virginia]
Nov. [November] 17th 1863.
Dear Brother
I recived [received] your kind letter dated Nov [November] 16th i was glad to hear from you and to find you and your famile [family] in good health. You wanted to know if thear [there] was aney thing [anything] in my leag [leg]. thear [there] is a rifel [rifle] ball in my left thygh [thigh] it is at present in amoung [among] the cords and sinewues [sinews] of my leag [leg] and evry [every] time i bend my knee the ball cuts like fun so i have to walk stif [stiff] leaged [legged]. i came to this place to be examined by 3 boards of Dockters [Doctors]. i have passed one and i have 2 more to pass befor [before] i know if i will get discharged or get put in the invlaid [invalid] core.
You wanted to know what kind of a girl i had for my wife well she will make two of me just ½ a inch shorter than i am, and as strong as
[page break]
a horse she is industrius [industrious] i am shure [sure] and she is now boarding with a room furnished by her self [herself] at, No 1007 south 5th st. at Mrs Smith he is the supertendent [superintendent] of the Publick [Public] ledger of Philad. [Philadelphia] and verey [very] fine pepole [people] is his famile [family]. it seemed thay [they] could not do enufe [enough] for me whill [while] i was home. and he sends me the papers to day [today] he sent me the Dispatch. so Nellie is settled untill [until] i get ready to take her away. she has a uncle in your city in broadway by the mame [name] of Sutart Stuart a dry good merchant and by his letters he seems to think a good bit of her she has a uncle in Philad [Philadelphia] which is in the dry good buizness [business] in chestnut st and the rest of her famile [family] is in Savannah Georgi [Georgia], as thay [they] have 2 large plantai-sons [plantations], upon the Savannah river-
[page break]
and she has maney [many] big friends in Philad [Philadelphia] as i have viset [visit] some of the finest houses in this city with her. and one night we viseted [visited] a famile [family] in spruce street, but the Name of Guints. he is a comardoor [commadore] in the Navey [Navy] and his farther [father] an old man of about 80 years of age nearly squred me to death shouted with joy to find she would condesend [condescend] to marrey [marry] a soldier and he said she schould [should] have a present for doing so. i do not know what that present will be. but it will be somthing [something] nice. as thay [they] are verey [very] rich. and i could mention maney [many] places which are kind friends to her which are rich and think g a good bit of me. as she was a strong Rebel befor [before] i come home but she is in for the Union now and when i spoak [spoke] about my pay she said she could keep her self [herself]
[page break]
and that i schould [should] not worrey [worry] about that. the day after we was married i whent [went] up to the hospital at 6 oclock in the morning and that day she whent [went] out and bought funiture [furniture] for a room and she come up and brought me down that night and i was suprised [surprised] to find my self [myself] in a splendid furnis-hed room belonining [belonging] to her. but i have said enufe [enough] on this affiar [affair]
You are mistaken it was the 15th of May which i was musterd [mustered] into the U.S. Servis [Service]. but we are in the first 375 thousand called for by the presedent [president] for 3 monthes [months] and thay [they] have passed an act that all of the first 75,000 shall be discharged the first of aprial [April] next. and it was befor [before] the house to discharge the same troops on the 5 of Jaunarey [January] but it was not passed befor [before] the house adjoined so we have but to stay untill [until] next aprial [April].
I will close untill [until] to morrow [tomorrow] as i have not got the paper yet
I remain Your
Brother
Thos. D. Hazzard

Extent of Description

1 leaf, 9.8" by 7.9"

Relation

Show Related Records...

Condition

Poor

Condition Notes

Overall, letter is in poor condition. This sheet has one vertical fold down its center. It has two horizontal folds splitting it into equal thirds. There is discoloration along the fold lines and edges, especially on the front of the page. There are also spots of discoloration throughout the page. It has a large tear at the bottom of the vertical fold going about one third of the way up the page. The sheet has wrinkles throughout.

Legal Status

Owned by The Union League Legacy Foundation.