Personal war correspondance of  John Wesley Ruby, Angelina County, TX
 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lillie Ruby <switw@aol.com>
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Department of the Gulf
New Orleans, LA Nov 15, 1863
To Dr. Furgurson Surgeon U. S. A.


Your undersigned patient would respectfully represent to your honor, that 
he has been for a considerable time in confinment as a prisoners of war in 
this city, suffering all the time woulnd on left hand and would in the leg.  
Your petitioner would futher represent to your honor that he has been 
accustomed to an active life and clost confinement mitigates naturaly 
against his general health.  Therefor, I pray your nonor to grant him a 
parole to the city if not consistent with your honor to grant the parole 
for all the time, a given number of hours each day will probably add must 
to the health and comfort of your petitioner and by far with the compliance 
with the letter and spirit of the parole, the petition will not suffer so.
By complying with the foregoing prare you will confer a lasting favor on 
your humber servant.
signed John W. Ruby


New Orleans, LA 3 Aug , 1863
Major General Banks
It is with some trouble that I have seated myself to drop you a few lines to 
let you know my situation and to ask you for the favor of being parolled or 
sent to the Texas line so that I can get home.  I was wounded at the battle 
of Irish Bend on the 16th of April and there taken as a prisoner and brought 
to this city carried to the University Hospital there I was well taken care 
of until I went to leave there on the 22nd of July when I went to look for 
my clothing I coulnd't find then and they made me take old clothes that was 
inferior to mine and I carried two blankets there that was nearly new and a 
rubber blanket that I got last fall out of the store and I could not find 
either so I had to take blankets that was helf worn for mine the rubber blanket 
that I had to take is hardly worth carying but I thought better than nothing 
so I don't think it is rite to brent (?) a man so if he is a prisoner of war 
at lest I would.........................................................
but General the clothes is gone and I would be very glad to get a paroll 
or sent to convenient place so that I could get home as I am crippled and 
liable to cripled for some time to come.  I would be very glad to get home 
for I an no covered here and I wouldn't be much at home. I have a mother 56 
years old and 4 little brothers and sisters a wife and one child there to 
tend to my Father and brother having died last years.  General will you be 
so kind as to grant me a fovor by echasing me from the Parish Prison in 
some way or other if you please sir.  I don't have what I was sent to thi 
prison for cripeled as I am.
General if you ever wish to do a tru Confederate a favor I no that you will 
have the opportunity of doing it now and I believe as you are true to your 
country that you like true men whether they are of the same opinion that you 
are or not I am a poor man I have been in the Confederate service 21 months 
tomorrow I went to New Mexico under General Sibley and fought through two 
battles there and then went to Santa Fe where I was taken a prisoner from 
the Hospital on the 20th of April 1862 taken from there ot chigo in Illinoi 
and sent from there to Vicksburg at which place we arrivd at on the 17th of 
September for exchanges and was exchanged on that day.
General will you plase to so kinde as to let mee know what you will do for 
me a soon as it is convenient for you to do so   I am most respectully yours,
J. W. Ruby
4th Texas Calvalry