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Regiment: 1st Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Butler
Newport [ ? ] Va. Apr 27 1862
Dear Florence
Your letter of last Sunday only
reached me last night. I suppose I should
have written then but as the Paymaster came
by the same boat
[ ? ] Cap. A. is in the hospital at Old
[ ? ] I was very busy till midnight as he paid off
the whole Reg. after 5 oclock. I am glad that
you persist in your determination to write me often.
You deserve great praise for doing so much +
being so poorly paid for of a truth one of your
letters is worth a dozen of my hastely written
affairs. Yesterday brought me 5 letters. Yours
my sister Melias, Cousin Fanny express great
concern but she has commited a great
[ ? ]
[ ? ] or an unpardonable sin in presuming to
write you + wishes to know of one if I think
she acted wrongly. Her greatest trouble is
that perhaps the matter will be a cause of
trouble to us. Had we no greater troubles than
this grey hairs would be few with either of
us. I know Fanny feels mortified to think
she has been so presuming, but in her own
language it must be laid to the fact that she
has always
[ ? ] in the backwoods + perhaps in
[ ? ] of all the circumstances she is not entirely
past all hopes of forgiveness.
Write to her please
just for my sake will you?
I do not know what to think of my sisters
letter. She devotes nearly a page of large letter pa-
per-this size-to you. In some way she has
found that you are intending to return to Ill
this spring. I suppose by the way of Sarah +
seems of the whole matter is that she wants you
to come via Hillsdale + stop with her a few
days. Her words were “I would be very happy to see her + be
“-come acquainted with her. Will my invitation have to go di
“rect to her? Or will you invite her for me? You ask her
“for me that a good boy. I will do my best to make”
her visit here pleasant. Answer this part of my letter
“soon.” Were it any person in the world buy my
sister Melia I should be greatle greatly inclined to have
a good joke over the matter, but I know that she
is sincere + am sure that you would enjoy
yourself finely if you could go there. Therefore I
will forward her invitation + write her that I
have done so, but wills ay that it will be necess
ary for her to do the same + that promptly.
I know you would love Jimmie Parsons + Emily De Char-
lys wife – sister, they live just across the street from
my sister. They are all kind good people, not in the
least aristocratic, but refined cheerful + happy “our
sont of folks”. Consider the proposition.
We have the best camp I ever saw. The
sun has not shone upon it since we have been
here. Rain all day yesterday – a dull, heavy fog
is over all things today. Our position is an
exposed one, but we feel no anxiety. This camp
was shelled by the Merrimae when on her trip in March.
I do not see as it will be within the power of any per-
son in authority to allow me to leave here at present.
So long as we are before the enemy or to long as the
the stars + Bars float in sight of Hampston Roads no
person from this department can leave without com-
-promising honor. I would gladly do all in any
power to join you + see you safe in your home
in the West + have made a strong effort to be al-
-lowed a 20 day leave, but tis of no avail at pres-
-ent. But you would not have me leave here now. Tell
me as you think. Aught I to leave the service now?
When will you return home. Name the latest date –per
haps the circumstances will be so that I can leave within
a month or six weeks.
Do you ever hear from Sarah? I have only had
one letter from her since in Va.
[ ? ] is Carrie
Wells + is the Carrie W. yet.
I do not like one bit to have you tease + perplex
+ torment the life from our in the manner you
did in your last for lines of your last letter.
Its to bad to be away from all that one
loves without even a shadow to look upon.
Yell me truly did you send your picture? If you
did it has never reached me.
This is such a gloomy day. I hope you are
not enjoying it as I am. I greatly fear that
I am becoming confirmed in some old bachelor
habits + fear unless I am taken care of by
my friends will appear to a great disadvantage
if I am ever thrown among enlightened people
again. You will exercise your talents upon me.
Do you know that when I feel tired off all the
“rain flories” + “pomp” of this world” I turn far
oftener to you. Than to any other source of
good. Perhaps tis wrong for me to love you so
very much, but I do not think it sinful.
Is it? Can two understand each other better than we do
+ I am sure we will always be the same.
Tell me all your thoughts + wishes + I will be ready to
receive, accept + act upon them. Write me often just
you have done + I am just the same ugly but
only Yours
Will Bryns
[On Envelope:]
Miss Florence Clark
Care Geo. J. Adams
Ceres
Alligany Co
New York
Sentinel! Pacing with weary feet
life +down on your lonely beat:
Out of sight of the sleeping camp
Nester stopping your watchful tramp
What are your thoughts + what your fear
Do your wide eyes ever fill with tears
As you think of loved ones far away
who years far you sadly every day!
Does your soldier heart beat quick with pain
As you long to be at home again?
Will Byrnes
No 61 1862
