From the National Archives, M437 (Letters Received by the Confederate Secretary
of War 1861-1865), Roll #141
Chimborazo Hospital No. 2,
June 30th 1864
To Surgeon J. B. McCaw
Sir, I herewith return your
communication of W. F. Spool(?) to the Hon. Sec. of War and forward you the
reply of G. L. Gates Hospital Steward in relation to W. H. Craig. As to the
moral character of the said Craig I know nothing, but believe from what I have
recently heard from several citizens on Church Hill of respectability, that his
character for integrity and honesty has never before been assailed.
He was admitted into the Hospital
on the 7th day of the present month having been examined by Conscript Board and
found incapable of performing field duty because of wound in the leg received
some years since severing Tend. Achilles and for which he has been detailed by
said Board for Hospital duty. W. H. Craig says he knows no person by the name of
W. F. Spool(?) and thinks the communication annoying.
I am Very Respectfully
Sir Yr Obt Servt
S. E. Habersham
Surgeon in charge
Richmond Va
June 21st 1864
Secretary of war Dear Sir I drop you a few lines to let you
know the particulars of some of our highway robers for we cannot call them
anything Better than Robers they have strove very hard ever since the war
commenced to keep out of servise and has paid the loyers and doctors very high
to keep them out of service But at last has Been past fit for service
William Craig who was sent to Chimborazo about too weeks
ago he says it is astonishing to see so many well harted men as thar is there to
do nothing he says there is nothing for him to do and its well that ther aint
for its very little he intends to do for the south he is celling meat in market
most every day he had his stall open thursday friday and saturday celling meat
at the highest prices and he has been heard to say that he did not care how soon
the yankees got here.
theres Robert Cruise who is a clerk at the Yankee hospital
he gave a party some months since at his residence the nice things they had
cannot be bought in our city such as amons lemons tramoin(?) jelly different
kind of jelly preserves maple sugar loaf sugar all kinds of cakes and many other
things such as the north affords.
Respectfully
W. F. Spool
[several letters follow attesting to the character of
Craig]
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