Civil War-dated ALS signed “Rice C. Bull,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 8, August 9, 1863. Letter to his brother, Gordon Bull, in full: "Last Thursday we arrived in this place and are now enjoying our selves as well as we can under the circumstances. After leaving home, I met Weer at Smiths Basin, we went to Troy and took the night boat for New York and arrived there in the morning about 8. As Weer was in a hurry to get along on account of his brother we did not stop over but took the train immediately for Philadelphia and from there to Harrisburg. We got in to Harrisburg about 9 in the evening and stayed all night, in the morning we took the train from Hanover Junct. intending to go to Gettysburg but on the way down we found that the 12th Corps Hospt. was broken up at Gettysburgh and also that Capt. Weir was dead so we kept straight through to Baltimore and reported to the Medical Director who gave us a little lecture on the enormity of our sins in staying over 30 days & then sent us here so we are all right on that I guess.
The Hospt. is in the heart of the city and consists of about a dozen brick houses merged into one there is about 500 patients about our half of whom are sick and the rest wounded from Gettysburgh. Most of them are doing well. Our soldiers who were wounded at Gettysburg are receiving very different treatment from what we did over at Chancellorville. My health is first rate or just as good as it was when I left home the journey tired me considerable but did not make me sick in the least. How long shall I stay here I do not know. I am beginning to get sick of it now. Sid & myself are in the same room or it wouldn't be endurable. But I shall try to stand it untill they see fit to send me away.
The weather here is warm about the same it was last week in old Washington Co and it is tip top hay weather. I suppose you are sweating over that long hay in your big meadow this week. There is nothing of interest to write now things seem to be quiet in Baltimore. As soon as you get this write directing to Newton University Hospt. House 6 ward 3 Baltimore Md. Give my love to Lib. and all enquiring friends and write soon. Excuse mistakes as I write in a hurry & have most a miserable pen." In fine condition, with some light staining to the last page.
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