Stevinson, Ala.
Dear Father,
I suppose that before this reaches you will have heard through Fannie of my situation. I have been here since Oct 35th having had a very severe diarhia with a slight attack of fever. I am better now, but not well enough for action operations. I hope soon to be able to go forward for lying here is very irksome.
James D. Fessenden to his father, William Pitt Fessenden [Fessenden Collection]