To Mrs. Lyon.
Iuka Springs, Miss., General Hospital, Thursday, Sept. 4, 1862.—On Monday I learned that the regiment had to leave Tuscumbia the next morning, and fearing that I might not see them again, without asking leave of any doctor I jumped on the train and went there. General Rosecrans was on the train and said: ‘Why, Captain, where are you going?’ He thought it was rather venturesome of me to take the trip, but said he thought if I took plenty of quinine and whisky there would be no danger of my being worse, and he pressed his own flask upon me.
Tuscumbia is thirty miles east, and in Alabama. The boys seemed pleased to see me. I stayed with them that night and saw them off in the morning. I felt better in the morning for my trip. A few hours after the regiment left, a courier was dispatched recalling it; and it is now in Tuscumbia without doubt, although they had not yet arrived when I left. I found the boys all well and in fine spirits. I feel very well, the only trouble being weakness, and I am rapidly gaining strength. I weigh 138 pounds, having lost but 20 pounds during my sickness. I still live on beefsteak, tea, and mush and molasses. I have no fever, sweats, aches or pains of any kind, and the natural blackness is rapidly spreading over my countenance again.
