[William Bowen] to Unknown

[William Bowen letter] Hospital No 13 Ward No 1 Nashvill Tenn The grape seed is nearly all in my knapsack locked up in the Bagage room

Nashville Oct 28th 1863 Dear Mother I am still in Nashville where I wrote to you from on the 3d. I hope you have recieved the letter by this time and in five days more I hope to hear from you I am still getting better I believe But the livering we get here will not strengthen any one very fast We have two small pieces of Bread and a cup of coffee or tea and sometime a very small piece of Boiled beef and at other times a Spoonfull of molasses in place of beef

2 I will tell you a shame-full fact. I see men every meel with their bodies pierced in every discription with balls that have been faithful Soldiers over two years beg for more bread or any thing to satisfy their honger and they can have no more. The question is ast a 100 times every meal won't you give a piece of bread and the answer is no.. All this is not the fault of the government but it is these paper collared villains that are getting rich out of those that have no more power than a dog to get their rights

3 I should think nothing of it if we were in a place (as I have been) where it could not be had. But here there is great abundance of rations and the only fault lies in these Hospital villains that get banded together to rob the sick and wounded. I have money and can send out and get butter at [40?] cts a pound and can get along better than most here as but very few have any money. I have not been out of the House yet since I came a there is guard all around it and we have to have a pass to get out and a pass is only given once in eleven days and sometimes not that often

4 I have just been drawing some new clotheing it is the first I have had this year I have got a good pair of Boots and they only cost 2-88cts They are Government Boots but apear to be very good I have a new jacket and two pair of Socks so I am well clothed for this winter I have twelve dollars comeing to me the next pay day for clotheing I did not draw last year that I was entitled to and this year I expect to have twenty five as I shall not draw near all my clotheing I hope you will write Direct Hospital No 13 Ward No 1 Nashvill Tenn