Spent a very restless night, my
whole muscular system seemed charged with pain, but this morning it
eased off, and I find myself thickly covered with feverish looking
pimples. They say it is "fever rash." Doctor came 9 A. M., looked
dubious about something, but left with the injunction to "go slow".
About 10 A. M. I dressed and wrote a short letter home. I feel very
weak, but the pain has all left me.

Nashville, Sunday, Jan. 15. Felt pretty smart this morning. Up and ate
quite a breakfast. The eruptions much larger, feel a little sore. Doctor
came to see me after dinner and has pronounced it a case of varioloid.
Ordered us to keep the boys all out of the tent, and my tent-mates to go
and be vaccinated. I was much surprised at the announcement, as I was
not conscious of ever being exposed, and even yet a little incredulous,
but if this is smallpox I can stand it. While I have been sick, our nice
lot of horses have been turned over, also all of the harness, and it is
said we are to draw muskets soon to do guard duty in town.

Nashville, Monday, Jan. 16. In camp. I still feel pretty well. My throat
is very sore. Postules begin to fill and turn white, guess it is
smallpox. I am ordered to the smallpox hospital, and am now awaiting the
ambulance. I must leave everything, as I could bring nothing away. I
feel sorry to leave the boys but would not stay to spread the contagion
among them. So, dear Journal, I must bid you good-bye until I return.
God grant that it may not be long. I anticipate but a short siege, am
astonished to find it so easy thus far. Adieu.

[Sidenote: 1865 In Hospital]

Nashville, Monday, Feb. 6. Back in camp. Mr. Journal, I have returned
after just three weeks' absence and now hasten to resume my story. As
the sun was setting in the west the ambulance came for me. Wrapped in a
single blanket, I left my old comrades while they were drawing muskets
and making a great noise over it. I was ushered into ward 7 with its
long row of low cots, most of them occupied by men with very sore
looking faces, but I had seen too many such to allow my heart to sink. I
was clothed in hospital clothes and tucked into bed, where I lay for
twelve days. In a few days the postules filled up, raised very large and
were very painful. As I lay every inch of me seemed as though on fire.
The doctor would come (a kind-hearted man) and call it "a very pretty
case", the postules being very large and thick too. I suffered no
i