Tittle, George A., fl. 1862-1864 to his sister

Says his last letter was dictated because he was unable to write. That was because he injured his finger while assisting the ship's doctor remove the tonsils of another sailor. After making the cut, the doctor handed the knife to him "the point of which was covered with pus, and just at that time the ship rolled suddenly, and I accidentally scratched the end of my fore-finger of my right hand with the instrument; the finger immediately commenced paining me; and in the course of the day, swelled to an enormous size; the swelling extending over the whole hand and half way up to the elbow." Says a week afterward the finger began to "mortify" and it was amputated. Claims the stump has healed nicely and he can write fine (the penmanship is actually quite good). He misses the finger, but not as much as one would suppose. Says he has been to Algeciras, Gibraltar, and Tangier before returning to Cadiz since he last wrote. He is now at the Navy Yard in Lacarara, about 10 miles above Cadiz. Says they are making slight alterations to the ship before the leave for Gibraltar to watch the "Sumter." They left her there guarded by the "Tuscarora." Says the "Sumter" is under manned, having only 60 sailors on board, the rest deserting. Written while aboard the USS "Kearsarge".