Douglas Hospital Ward 2. Bed. 89
				Washington DC
				June 18th 1864

	[Mr?] B F. Marsh
		  My Dear Friend
				     I received your kind
favor of the 1st [illegible in original] last evening was happy to hear
of your good health etc I received two letters from Ed
the day before last yesterday but they were very old
one was written the [24th?] of April and the other the
18th of May the latter was written from the Hos
pital he had been unwell had the Neuralgia
but was about well again he was at [Rome?] Ga.
but expected to march soon towards Atlanta
if you wish to write the following is his address
Mr Ed Francis Holmes 10th Mich Infantry
1st Brigade 1st Division 14 Army Corps Chattanooga
Ga. Tenn. I am getting along pretty well but
I do dislike the Hospital I shall not get out as
soon as I expected to I find a broken leg is
a worse thing than I thought it was. I thought

I would get up on Crutches by this time
but I was mistaken I can not get out in a
month yet if I can then but lying on a bed
is better than in a government wagon over a 
corduroy road at any rate the paper says that
the Army is across the [illegible in original] river [2 words illegible in original]
I wish I was [illegible in original] with you.
I received a letter from Mother the other day
I have written her three letters since I came here
she was well when she wrote and expressed a good
deal of anxiety for you I am sorry I could not
see you when you saw my Regt but it was other
wise ordered God who does all things best has
seen fit to allow me to be wounded but I
know it is for the best and I feel thankful
it is no worse than it is well I must close
direct as before your friend
			          Augustus. B Holmes
    Mr. BF Marsh