Marine Hospital, New Orleans May 9th, 1865 Dear Father and Mother: Through the kindness of Mahlon I have received your kind letters of March 19 and 26, he forwarding them to me from the Regt. It is the first time I have heard from you in a long time so you may be assured I was very glad to hear from you. I am well pleased with the description of our new home. Think I could enjoy myself well now if I were there even if my poor leg would not allow me to plow and drag. Look out for me about next July if nothing happens. My leg seems to heal very slow. The cords seem to be cut up very bad. I do not get off my bed only to have it made for me. I fear sometimes that I never will get full use of it again but still I may be mistaken. I mean to try if a hospital boat goes from here up the river to get up as far as Memphis or Cairo. It is some cooler there than here. Think it would be much better for me, don't you? They are discharging men from here fast as they are able to move, that is all that wish them. Some prefer furlough but enough of this. We are of the opinion down here that the war is nearly at an end. The main armies of the Confederacy have all surrendered to our brave men. Not but a very little more remains to be done before proud America will behold her glorious emblem floating proudly over the whole Union atain. Good times are not far distant. Thank God for the glorious prospects in view. I heartily wish our honest old President could have lived to have fully realized the great end for which he had so long toiled, but he has gone to his long home. Remember me to Frank and Flora. I would write to them but it tires me so to write that I hate to commence a letter. Kiss the children for me. Tell them I shall soon see them if God is willing. Now you must write both of you and real soon. Your good letters do me so much good. God bless you is the prayer of Your son Lewis Bloodgood