Wayne County, NC - Letters William & Emmet Robinson Collection Johnston County Heritage Center Reference Box, P.C.1.1. George Ragsdale Collection White Sulphur Springs, Dec 4th 1863? My dear Pa; Having to go to Lewisburg on yesterday on business; I enquired at the office and found two letters from you the date of one them being Oct 24th. The cause of the delay was in consequence of your direction being directed to Floyd's Brigade, they of course sent to Raleigh C.H. ___ Head Quaters and from there resent to me at Lewisburg. It would be well for you to direct your letters, without specifying the Brigade. I informed you of my new Quarters on my arrival and the bad impression that it first made on me is not extremely erased. However, it is an excellent place for the pursuit of Knowledge and by close application to Hospital duty; it becomes an excellent school. There is nothing to revert the mind from the proper channel here, your daily routine is the first thing thought of in the morning and the last at night and were a physician disposed to be somewhat idle, he could find nothing for amusement. I do not want to create a false impression in your mind by having you think that I am reading very closely, but I would have you know that I have very few hours to throw away and have done more mental and physical labor than ever before. My hospital is full to repletion all the time, having from one hundred and twenty five to fifty patients to see every day. Our diseased are mostly of a Typhoid character and at the present we have to contend with epidemis Enysipelas(?), which is very fatal. The least scratch any one received has the tendency to emerge into an enysipelas inflamation. Our Surgeon and two assistants are now suffering and it creates some little anxiety where ever there is an abrasion of the skin. I am inclined to the belief, however, that it is as much owing to the contaminated atmosphere of hospitals as any thing else, probably more, and for that reason I have been tring to be cautious using disinfectants daily. I was comfortably situated at Lewisburg, having an excellent room, intelligent room mate and every thing tended to establish contentment and satisfaction and it was not until I was ordered to white Sulphur that the inconveniences and privations of Western Virginia presented themselves to view. I have seen and felt them, now, in all their magnitude. It is bleak and, I think, unusual section of country and perfectly useless only for summer scenery. In all probability, this hospital will be broken up in five or six weeks. In two days the number of inmates have decreased some two hundred. In consequence of such demolition, there will be no telling where they will order me next, most likely though to be Richmond to stand my examination, which I shall respectfully refuse. Your suggestion about seeing the Surgeon General, relative to my position, does not fully meet my approbation. I am willing to act as others in the premisis, provided, there is not an order current of prejudice against me to contend with. From what I learn, the medical Faculty submits a Candidate to a strictly practical examination and have one or two witnesses. I have never heard of them deviating from such a course. There are many, yes, a majority of assistant Surgeons who will not stand. The reason is that while they may feel their competency and ability, to practive medicine and also understand the theory of Surgery, still, they argue that their future destiny is in the hands of these five men if they choose to ask them questions on the minutiae of medicine and surgery which they can not answer, they are thrown, and their future reputation ruined to a certain degree. I had much rather resign, attend another course of lectures and then present my self before the board for a permanent commission. I feel no embarassment at all in practicing without a diploma, for the reason that my knowledge of the practive of medicine is not inferior to those who have their diplomas as my mortality this will prove during my stay in the hospital. I have given you my views and would rather lie dormant until I hear from the board. Some think that they will not examine those who have their commissions. I rest under no such fancied security. Why is it turning to home affairs, that John not write to me ? I have written him once or twice, but not heard from him. I am glad to learn he is getting along so well, he is out shining me. I am plain in dress, having bought only one suit, for $60 which I have to wear every day. My shoe bill is the worst of all. I cut them through over these weeks in two or three weeks, the cash from 6.50 to $10 a pair. You have never written me anything about Macrae and Sister, where are they ? I have wanted to know to write to Sister. I am in excellent health. Dr Somers is now prostrated from an attach of cont'd or Cough? Fever. More than likely I will be ordered to Rev Sulphur in a week or two, if I do, I will see a Yankee. It will be impossible for me to get a furlough to go home Christmas, unless for good. You may expect me when you see me. Write soon. Your Son Windal T R _________________________________________________________________________ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. 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