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Regiment: 7th Wisconsin Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Utley Racine Feb 16
th 1864
Dear Sister I took the cars at Beaver Dam Thursday 1240 am the ride from
there to Milwaukee was a very pleasant one & I enjoyed myself finely we passed
through Horricon Hartford & several others small towns About dark we arrived at
Milwaukee but found that the train had just started for Racine So we put up at the
hotel & waited for the morning train. Nine o clock AM found us at Camp Utley but
to our surprise we found but a few of the Co. B boys here Of the 33 boys that
belong to our co but 5 or 6 of them reported here on the 11
th & now as I write
several of the boys are just coming in from there homes. Camp Utley is situated on
the south side of Racine on the shore of Lake Michigan The camp covers about 25
acres there are about 25 barrack capable of accommadating 110 men in each
barrack In each barrack there is a very large stove which takes in 4 foot wood with
ease Directly behind the barracks is a cook house where government rations are
served up in fine stile & to the satisfaction of all parties concerned
Racine is a city of about 14,000 souls scattered over the surface of the country for
about 2 ½ miles square At present business is not as brisk as it will be at the other
seasons of the year on account of the lake being frozen up & the non arrival of
steamers from other posts Still as it is the streets are full with produce of all kinds
awaiting sale especialy hay which seams to find a ready sale in large quantities
In camp we have everything that a soldier in reason could ask for Our beds are
good & our food is excelent & of large quantity The boys are enjoying themselves
hughly in various ways It is the report at present that the 7
th is to leave here for Va
on Wednesday next as to the reliability of this report I shall not vouch for Last
Sunday I attended church here in the city listened to a very good sermon
My “ears” are getting along as well as could be expected thoug they are quite sore
Lieut Wick has just arrived have had a short conversation with him He expressed
himself as being very sorry that he could not call on us He was to have been at Fall
River on the night of the Donation & would have call had he been there but business
call him away so that it was not convienent for him to be there on that evening
Capt Hobart has received a short leave of absence & will be here I think this eve’
I have had 4 portraits taken & if they are finished by night I will send three of them
to you Give my respect to all of the young folks & reserve a share for home use
From your Brother Spencer H
Amanda Bronson write soon P.S. my appetite is improveing SAB
