Brigadier-General William F. Bartlett to Harriet Plummer Bartlett, Sunday, August 28, 1864

Libby Prison (hospital),

Richmond, August 28, 1864.

Dear Mother, — I was sent here from Danville on Friday night. Traveled all night. I arrived here yesterday morning; went to see Colonel Ould. I am “to be sent North by first flag of truce boat,” so I hope I may reach home before this letter does. I am still very feeble and shall not be fit for duty for several months. Nor then for active field duty. I am very well treated here;¹ as Colonel Ould said to me, “Libby is not half so bad as it has been represented.”

Hoping to see you soon,

I am ever your affectionate son,

W. F. Bartlett,

Brigadier General U. S. A.

_______________

¹ He told his mother afterwards that the statement as to good treatment was inserted to meet the contingency of the opening of his letter.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 132