Alvah Marsh Letter : January 1, 1864

Alvah complains of how bored he is in the hospital. He explains that one of the men in his ward was accused of shooting off one of his fingers to avoid the battlefield. Alvah believes the man will be executed if found guilty for he claims to have seen this happen to other deserters. Alvah makes it clear to his mother that he has no intention of reenlisting when his term of service is up.