[*5th Mass Calvary-
one of 3 black regiments
From- Massachusetts 
Letter from Freedman's Hospital 
with "official Business
USA Medical Department Envelope*]
[*D265*]
[*5th MASS CAV
D265*]

Black Soldier's Pay: Nice one page letter 
in ink by W. P. Powell Jr. surgeon in 
charge at Freedman's Hospital Wash DC
Sept 20, 1864 regarding pay to Priv. 
Charles Poke 5th Mass Colored CAV Troops 
who did not receive the pay, etc. Fine 
cover with U. S. Med Depart printed on it 
that the letter was hand carried in.
Nice items and could be framed.

Freedman's Hospital
Washington D.C.
Sept. 20th 1864
I certify that I received a
letter from Capt. Welsh stationed
at Point Lookout in Reference 
to Private Chas Polks claim
of $240. Capt. Welsh stated
in the letter that he paid Private
Chas Polk the sum of one hundred
& forty ($140) dollars, and the 
remaining one hundred ($100) was
deposited in one of the Massachusetts 
Savings Bank and would forward
the balance to my care for Private
Chas Polk immediately which I
Never received - the letter was by
accident mislaid - & the exact date 
I am unable to state.
Wm P. Powell
A.A. Surgeon U.S.A. in charge.

1864
Chas. Polke
Co "C" 5th Mass, Vols.
Colored troops
Aug. 30th
Wrote Capt. Welch
Commanding Comp
"C" enclosing order 
of Chas. Polke for 
Two Hundred and
Forty Dollars which
he had placed in
his hands for safe
keeping.

Official Business
U.S.A. Med. Department.
Certificate of 
Private Chas Polk
Wrote Capt. Welch
the within [?]
Sept. 21 1864

Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.