Letter 10 — August 11th, 1863
“no one in the company was loved better or had more friends than Mathew”
Dear Friend It is with exceedingly great pleasure to me to be able to inform you this morning that Geo & Mathew are still alive & in the Garvis U.S. Army Hospital at Baltimore. Having received official information late last evening to that effect. You have doubtley had many reports & some very conflicting to. Those I sent were based on my Own observations together with as many as twenty others All of who were positive that the account was correct, which I gave. We heard the report told by Hugh Wallace but did not place the least confidence in it, I do not expect I can give any information but the accounts I previously gave will have such very little room to be mistaken that I fear you still trouble yourself that I am right. None could be more surprised that their company was upon hearing the refered to intelligence. and would place no confidence in the reports untill it came officially. from the Surgeon in charge of Said Hospital. The circular or order will be sent to Capt Brown today at Springfield. Where you can see what information we received Their address is Geo or Mathew Overpack company J 110th regt. O.V.S. Garvis U.S. Army Hospital, Baltimore Md. I shall write to them immediately and learn from them if they are able to write. Their experience two others. Of whom we have had no previous account wre with them. That is Leroy Bowman & Wm Robertson. We know nothing concerning their wounds or how they are getting along but think they must be out of eminet danger. as they have lingered so long under the treatmnet of the enemy. and are now placed in much better quarters and under better care than they previously had. It is truly a great pleasure to me and all the company to know that we have been mistaken as no one in the company was loved better or had more friends than Mathew and I have seen several killed or died laying on the different fields but I have saw none that I was more positive of their being dead than I was Mathew. Had I though there was any probability of him of not being dead I should never have written as I did. but we are all truly very thankful that we have been mistaken and now earnestly hope he may safely recover and soon be with his friends again It has long been said that a person never knows how dear a friend is to them or how much they love them until that friend is in eminent danger or taken from them. That saying has seldom been more clearly demonstrated that this time I must close excuse this hastily written letter as I am on duty today and have been often interupted. Under any other circumstances I should not attempt to write. but hoping this may serve to allay at least a portion of that great anxiety which a mother only can feel. and if it does I shall be well paid for the trouble I have taken. except my warmest regards. yourself and give the same to the surrounding friends no more Mrs Sarah A. Wise
Wm Wise