Whitman writes a response letter to Lewis K. Brown, a wounded soldier recovering in the hospital Whitman worked at. Whitman writes that he had been very sick, and has had to return to Brooklyn. He is presently recovering at home, and hopes to be well soon. The only news that he has to share with Lewy is that the railroad and telegraph in Baltimore, Washington, and Philadelphia have been cut by the rebel army.
Full Text
To Lewis K. Brown
Brooklyn|July 11 1864
Dear comrade
I have rec'd your letter of the 6th as it has been sent on to me by Major Hapgood. My dear comrade, I have been very sick, and have been brought on home nearly three weeks ago, after being sick some ten days in Washington-The doctors say my sickness is from having too deeply imbibed poison into my system from the hospitals--I had spells of deathly faintness, & the disease also attacked my head & throat pretty seriously-
The doctors forbid me going any more into the hospitals-I did not think much of it, till I got pretty weak, & then they directed me to leave & go north for change of air as soon as I had strendh-But I am making too long a story of it-I thought only to write you a line-My dear comrade, I am now over the worst of it & have been getting better the last three days- my brother took me out in a carriage for a short ride yesterday which is the first I have been out of the house since I have been home-the doctor tells me to-day I shall soon be around which will be very acceptable-This is the first sickness I have ever had & I find upon trial such things as faintness, headache & trembling & tossing all night, & all day too, are not proper companions for a good union man like myself-
Lewy, I dont know any news to send you-the acc'ts here to-night are that the railroad & telegraph between Baltimore & Washington are cut, & also between Philadelphia by the rebel invasion-
My dear boy, you say you would like to see me-well I would give any thing to see your face again too-I think of you often-tell Jo Harris & Bartlett I have not forgotten them-
And now good bye, Lewy, & accept my heartfelt & true love, my dearest comrade-& I will try to write again before a great while & tell you how I am getting along, & which way I expect to move, &c. And I hope you will do the same to me-
So good bye again, Lew, & God bless you, dear son, now & through life-
Walt Whitman
