[Letter]: 1864-08-14 from Joseph to Mother

1864 August 14 from Sergt J. D. Richardson (Sickel Hospital, Ward S Sickels Barricks, Alexandria, Va) to Mother re: her letters of the 8th and 10th received. Sorry to hear Aunty is so sick, will try to get home. Weather is so very hot and hard on the sick people. Had a tough time of it for two or three days when he got rid of a sixteen foot long tapeworm but suffered from the operation in the first place. Had to starve himself and then get pumpkin seed, mash it up fine and mix with milk and loaf sugar, take it and then castor oil, croton oil, spirits of turpentine and it worked some but made him weak as a cat. The turpentine took off all the skin of the funnel and burned him so that when he had to urinate he had a stream of blood. It is all over now but now he has a boil on his neck which he hopes will be well soon. The doctor is very kind and did most of Joseph’s work for him. He is a guard Doc but is going to leave around the 22nd of this month and I am going and one of the nurse’s time is up. Tomorrow there will be a change all around. Amelia talks of coming to see him. He received the furlough and discharge. Has not heard from the regiment for a long while nor from any that belong to it. He hears that there are great doings already in Beverly with the soldiers and women and hope that she will not let the girls run around with them - they will soon be sorry for it. Hopes this will find them all well. [1864 August 15 [envelope 3 cent stamp cancelled Alexandria VA addressed to William Richardson Beverly Burlington Co. New Jersey]