December 31st, 1863.
A squad of ten convalescents left for the North today. The balance of the wounded will go as fast as their condition will permit. Twenty-six, out of thirty in my ward, will be able to go by Wednesday next, and I will be left without patients. I rejoice with the poor fellows. The thought of going home, where kind friends can minister to their wants and supply their needs, is a wonderful tonic.
There has been much excitement among the old regiments the past two weeks. The Eighth Michigan boys have enlisted for “during the war,” nearly every man. The same is true of several other regiments whose terms of service expire next spring. They are to have four hundred dollars bounty and thirty days’ furlough.
The Seventeenth is not included in this order, having over a year to serve. There is much talk of the Ninth Corps leaving this department. I wish I knew it to be true.
