Page:History of the Forty-eighth Regiment, M.V.M. during the Civil War (IA historyoffortyei00plumm).pdf/52

 The voyage South lasted until the 30th day of January during which the deadly ship fever (the surgeons call it "Purpura") broke out on board and several of our men died from its effects and received a soldier's burial at sea.

It is a sad sight to see the poor fellows launched into the deep dark waves, while their comrades stand nigh with anxious tearful faces. The fever increasing rapidly the men all came upon deck, the hatches battened down and the ship thoroughly fumigated.

The following letter is self-explanatory:

On board Ship "Constellation," in Gulf of Mexico, January 24, 1863.

My dear Madam:—I have sad news to communicate. Your son is no more on this earth. He was taken ill last Wednesday, and, in less than twenty-four hours, he was a corpse. He died at four o'clock P. M., on Thursday and was buried at sunset in the Gulf Stream off coast of Florida, Latitude 25, Longitude 20 west.

Let me assure you that everything possible was done for him, by his comrades and our good surgeon, Dr. Hurd, to save him from ravages of ship-fever, but all our efforts were in vain. The light of his youthful countenance has gone out forever.

What can I say to you, his good mother, who gave her only son an offering upon the altar of our common country?

A fond mother will desire the sad details, his last acts and words. An hour before he died, I told him the doctor feared he could not live. He seemed to be fully aware of his condition, and, turning his head