A Confederate surgeon's letters to his wife

Through candid, often hurried prose, a Confederate surgeon writes home from a string of early war campaigns, painting an intimate portrait of life on the march. He describes the cramped, mud‑splattered roads of Virginia, the cramped medicine tent where he sleeps, and the endless cycle of forced marches that test both men and horses. His letters blend practical updates on troop movements with personal reflections on his wife and newborn son, offering a rare glimpse of a soldier‑doctor trying to preserve his humanity amid the chaos.

The correspondence also records the surgeon’s observations of battle preparations, the sudden surge of artillery fire, and the harsh realities of field medicine—scant supplies, bouts of sickness, and the constant threat of loss. While he notes the looming possibility of combat, his tone remains grounded in the everyday details of camp life, from cracked biscuits to the camaraderie of fellow officers. Listeners will hear a vivid, unvarnished voice that brings the early months of a conflict to life through the eyes of one devoted husband and healer.