Oxford Times, October 21, 1863
Algiers, La., Sept. 16th, 1863
I am in receipt of two packages (One barrel and one box) addressed to "Hospital 114th Regt. N.Y.V.," which arrived at the regiment on the eve of our starting for the Sabine Pass. I had then disposed of my sick by sending them to General Hospital. I felt, however, that the contents would be needed for the boys going on the expedition, especially if long at sea. I therefore turned them over to be distributed by the Orderly Sergeants of companies A and H, with instructions that they should go to the boys from Oxford first, and afterward to others of same companies. The reason of my immediate distribution was that transportation could not be procured in the gross, and I felt that it would fulfill the wishes of the donors to thus supply the boys than risk the whole loss by storage many months as it was then prospectively. Our expedition was ill fated, as you will learn by the papers, yet we were seven days on board transports crowded, badly ventilated in this tropical climate with rations of pork and hard bread only a part of the time issued to the men, so you can judge how beneficial your magnificence was at such a time. We yesterday returned to this place where we are under orders to start tomorrow on another route to Texas. We shall likely make a longer stay this time. Rest assured the 114th will never be found wanting when duty calls her. Her record, although bloody, is such as shall never bring a blush on the people of Chenango.
For myself, permit me to correct an error of "Madam Rumor." Dr. Wagner is not on his way home, neither does he expect to be for a time yet, but at a post difficult and laborious from which he has not been absent for over a year, and his surprise is great at this error inasmuch he has never seen his name in the papers.
L.P. Wagner, Surgeon 114th Regt., N.Y.V.
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