After previously vowing not to enlist, Ambrose Price writes to let his cousin know that he has, in fact, "joined old Abes army for six months[.] i would not have joined but i was out of work at home and i thought i would go to the army as i can make more money here[.]" His views about the war effort, however, have not changed: "i dont intend to fight if they take me in to battle[.] it is not that i am a coward but still i wont fight for the niggers[.]" Though he has not yet seen combat, Ambrose is writing from the West Walnut Street hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where he is recovering from "the tiphoid fever" before returning to his regiment, the 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry.