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Regiment: 11th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: John H. Morgan
Camp Nelson
Lexington, Ky.
December 24th, 1863
Dear Mary,
this is the first oppertunety I have had since I
left Camp Lee to write. I am well as usual & hope you the same.
we left Kalamazoo the 18 of December & arived here in Lexington
the 24 at night. We left Kalam about 10 o’clock at night & runn down
to the Grand Junction. at 3 miles west of Detroit we then directed
our discourse toward Toledo, Ohio, at which place we arived at about
Saturdaye evening we stoped their until Sunday evening at 10 o’clock,
then started for Cleveland, or rather within 25 miles of there, at
the place I can not tell. the next was Columbus, Oh, where
John Morgan was imprisoned & got away the last time. I saw some of
his men their. Monday night we arived at Cincinnati, the last place
of the free States to us. Tuesday morning we crossed the Ohio river
into K.Y. the City of Covington, were marched up to Camp Smith abut
2 miles from the River where we stoped until night then marched back
to the River took the cars for this place where we arrived some time
in the night but what time I do not know for being somewhat tired I
slept in the cars for the first time but we were aloud to remain until
moving. we did not get our tents struck until dark & we had better
of been all night about it then to of attemped to of slept, for it
and the ground was frose very hard we had to cut through the frost
before we could drive the stakes, but here we are body & goods, by
this time, we are amonkst the Rebels, for this town is all (secess)
night we took 3 rebels & imprisond them, they were taken by the
Guards, without arms of any discription. the Rockland Regiment leaves
today for Tennesee, they were encamped at Fort Clay, about one mile
from here. the Mich 10
th cavalry is some 20 miles from this place.
We expect to stay here this winter and do provost martial duty, if we
behave ourselfs but I hope we will not for I do not like it very
well. I am a going to send home for a set of teeth to eat hard tack
with. I know what hard tack is by this time you see. I visited the
Lexington Cemetry it is the beautyfulst spot I ever beheld in all of
life. In the center is the monument of Henry Clay the hights of it is
145 feet & on the top is the culpture of him who lieth in the vault
beneath this mass of culptured marble so grand & magnificent for the
traveler to behold. I will send you some of the different sprigs
that ornement this beautiful city of the dead. they may be of use to
you. I plucted them for you & you onely. keep them till I return
and let me see them. then, we pased Old Camp Denison where the
19
th were encamped so long & we were in camp where the boys were at
covington K.Y. in the same barrax, took dinner their. tell Claiz
we are a travling the same ground George has pass over & hope we
shall suckceed as well. the news has just come our arms will soon
be here
