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                           College Hospital
                             Near Gettysburg Penn
                                 July 15th 1863

Mrs P. H. Patton

    My Dear Mother
                 It has been now

nearly two weeks since I have been stretched out on the bed of suffering. You will doubtless have heard before this reaches you that I was badly wounded and left in the hands of the enemy. My sufferings and hardships during about one week that I was kept out in the field hospital were very great. I recd a wound through the mouth fracturing the Jaw Bone badly on both sides. The Doctors seem to agree that the danger of losing my life is small. The wound is serious, annoying and will necessarily be a very long time in getting well. I can assure you that is was the greatest consolation while lying on damp and cold ground to look up to that God to whom you so constantly directed my infantile + puerile thoughts and feel that I was his son by adoption. When friends are far away from you in sickness and in sorrows how delightful to be able to contemplate the wonderful salvation enfolded in the Bible. Whilst I have been very far from being a consistent Chris tian I have never let go my hope in Jesus and found is inexpressibly dear now. I write these thoughts to show you my spiritual condition and to ask your prayers continually for me. I am glad under such adverse circumstances to be able to write so cheerfully. I do not feel that I could do so every day. Sometimes I feel very badly and very weak. I have strong hope however that I shall get well ultimately and be restored to fond embraces of my dear friends in Virginia. To be at Mr. Gilmers at the Meadows; at Spring Farm or in Richmond with all the family around would be the highest delight I could experience. I must however put it off for sometime. As soon as I am able to travel I shall hurry home ward. Give my love to all. I write with some difficulty. Poor Lewis Williams died a few days after the battle from the effects of a wound.

          I am very affectionately
              Your son
                  W. Y. Patton