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Regiment: 1st Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Ambrose E. Burnsides, George A. McCall
Gaines [ ? ] Va
June 15th 1862
My Dear Florence,
After looking long + anxiously for
a letter it came last night. Today is the Sabbath
the peaceful holy Sabbath + it seems more like Sunday of
[ ? ] than any we have seen for many
[ ? ] of
[ ? ]. Our Reg. rests today. Yesterday + the day before
we were hard at work in the five “timber” to
[ ? ]
sticks for “Corderoy”. The weather is very hot +
oppressive. One cannot be comfortable in the cool
est shade we can find. On Friday after
we had nearly finished a tiresome days work
in the words we were ordered to our camp
at “
[ ? ] Quick” to join our Reg. which was
about to march. He had no time for supper
+ hastely throwing an
[ ? ] we joined
the other wing of the Reg which led us more
then a mile. We only went some two
miles, when we were ordered to return to
camp. Capt. Whitlesey is not with me. Still on
Count Marted + will perhaps be a month there.
That night about 11 the officer of the day came
+ informed us that we were to march at 2 the
next A.M. Of course sleep was out of the ques-
tion for the rest of the night. Again the
order was countermanded + we did not
go. In the A.M. the whole
[torn, missing] was ordered and
[torn, missing] fatique duty
See this wears upon men + our sick list shows it.
Aside from a severe cold +
[ ? ] I feel as well
as ever. Many of our men will not be fit for
duty if called, but our Reg is called a large one
+ we average more men for duty than the
most of the Regs in the division.
All is quiet here. The certain
[ ? ] of Richmond
Is only a question of time. When all things are
ready we will go up + possess the City.
The 4 has been on picket since Friday. I was at
This camp this A.M. but still not see Charly they
were to return at 10.
I very much regret that I cannot go to N.Y.
just now. Had we remained in Norfolk I could have
left but no well men can leave this Army now.
You do not wish me to. I do not think it at all
probably that we will be
[ ? ] or to allow
one to leave this month but you will re-
member. That so soon a
[ ? ] opportunity occurs
I will see you. We of course expect some
work before we reach R. but
[ ? ] what it will the
place must fall. I see that many of my
acquaintance in the 3
rd + 5
th Mich. Reg. have been
killed + wounded. Gen. Burnsides was at
[ ? ] Hd. Qrs.
one day last week. Came at 12 + left at 5. McCalls Div.
has found ours. We lost a druall wagon
train by a gurilla party a day or two
[ ? ]
[torn, missing] hardly a
[ ? ] [torn, missing] today
You are kind + thoughtful to send me such long letter when
you have such poor
[ ? ] to do so but remember
that in the field or do not have time to arrange
thought nor a chance for finishing a letter except by fasten-
ing to the first opportunity + hastening through. Our
baggage is reduced to a mere nothing a knapsack + a roll
of blankets constituting the whole. Tents are allowed
the officers one tent to a officer, instead of 2 to three
a is
[ ? ] in camp near transportation.
You can have no idea how sun burnt we all are.
If the prowess of the Union Army was to be measured
by its beauty. I think we would not be strong.
I do hope that affairs will shape so that I can
leave the Army if only for a few days. I do not
mean by that that I wish a stray bullet to strike me
but hope that there will be a time when we are
not all needed + I want to see you very much
+ will use all honorable means in endearoring to be
with you, at present, I cannot come.
I will call but that much of yours if he casts and
insinuations against the 1
st Mich. I sincerely pity
you in your many trials + perssentious.
Should this reach you at Nanda or before you go them
I wish you to secure photo of myself that I sent
Jenny Address. She has never acknowledged the receipt
of it to me. I was mistaken in
[ ? ] many name
when I spoke of the you
[torn, missing] not very young man
from Nanda. Who is in
[torn, missing] Reg.
[ ? ] honors.
You will go home by the Lake then. How I wish I could be
with you. I know the route so will + we could
have such a pleasant life + we would stop +
see Jenny Parson +
[ ? ]. Will you not
stop at Galva. I wonder if your old friend Mr
[ ? ] that the
[ ? ] of the one who
[ ? ] to
[ ? ]ore you with his presence +
[ ? ] will
recieve you with open mouth.
I think it would be grand if we could have
him here. I would like to send a bullet
[ ? ]
his head just for experiment. I wonder if he
would make a quick motion. I wish he had
the trouble + vexation I have this A.M. for I
am “breaking in” a new darky. I think that
if a few of the Gerrit Smith School were to
be placed here they would be the greater
abolitionists for I came south quite conservative
in my views, but now I am a strong
abolitionist. Had I my way, I would ban-
ish them to Africa,
all of them.
Tis a remarkable fact that a negro boy will work
faithfully for about 3 months then becomes
[ ? ]
US. I have a nice one now, only 13 years
old, but smart + handy. Mean to take him
North, if he wants to go, if he does not get
spoiled + above
[torn, missing], I think he is all that
your description
[torn, missing] for.
This is a beautiful country. The surface is uneven
just broken enough to be not at all [ ? ]
The land is fertile + had the inhabitants any
[ ? ]
prize whatever. I might be the most pleasant
part of our country.
[ ? ], plantation is
a
[ ? ] one + has
[ ? ] quite will cultivated.
He is a prisoner in his own house, then are also
a good many wounded rebels in the vicinity.
The coldness from N.C. talk
[ ? ] + think they
have been badly sol. I feel confident
that the
[ ? ] sentiment is greater in
Richmond than in the
[ ? ] remember
Yesterday the Corp of the 4
th found the bodies of
5 of the rebels killed in the engagement at
New Bridge. The rebel
[ ? ] must have
been 100 killed, our men/killed +/ mortally wounded
+ 5 slightly wounded.
All of the engagements in this part have resulted
in far greater loss to the rebels than to our side.
We are listening, waiting+ watching for the
opening of the battle that will close the
contest in Va. Probably on force will stay
on this side St. Chickahomony as we are in
fine position to prevent a flank movement on
the part of the rebels. As a reserve we are
to be ready where needed + when needed.
Y we are
[ ? ] it will be in a place where
work is required + absolutely needed.
Now will send the ambrotype by mail, please don’t send a
case they are humbugs. I will not ask the ring, although
I would be truly glad to have it. I never can forgive
myself for not securing that one that
[ ? ] me in
Washington + to long as you have now from me I ought
not to ask you to and yours, but I want it so bad.
I am afraid you can never cure me of selfishness.
When this truth is over I hope we will not be purplex-
ed
[ ? ] or now. I am not hitisfied to be away from you. My
life is so bound up in
[ ? ] that to be absent from
you is not pleasure. I had not say a word
for all this you know as well I.
[ ? ] I have fear writing it has come on
to rain. Not a heavy shower but just enough
to cool the air. We have some hoot here.
No civilian can pass through our Division
without being saluted with cries of “New York
Hearald” “Philiadelphia Enquire” + S. Our Reg. has
a different
[ ? ] from all the others. Tis “Nor-
folk D
[ ? ] Rook” + “Peanuts”. If we have
a bathing open the corp yell “Merrimae” in
a manner that is quite amusing.
We are felling quite joyous over the late
victory of the Mexicans over the French.
Served Nap. right.
We hope to rest in Richmond be-
fore the week closes feel sure of it
[ ? ] the month ends.
I have been since dinner writing. I find it quite different to get
more than 5 minutes rest. You may give yourself
[ ? ]
regarding my temper. I feel I am becoming
[ ? ] +
[ ? ]. We can hardly realize that we are in the heart
of the enemy country + on the eve of a decisive action
for my part I am willing to go forward when ordered
but I do not wish to count danger perhaps I am not
so brave or I should be, but I fell in though I had
now something to live for to use all endeavors to reach
as high or in my power lies. Were it not for your
influence over me I fear that I should not try so
hard to do all that is required of me. When tired + weary
of this hard life for tis a very ordinary one now. I lay
aside all the
[ ? ] + trouble that surround us have
+ lose myself in bright
[ ? ]. I need not say
that you are first in my mind then. Tis sweet
to think when surrounded by so much wickedness of
love of purity of peace. Will they ever be companions of mine again.
Will not the storm of war wear away + bright
peace again reign over our fair country? “That it
“may please thu to bring into the way of truth all
“such as have erred + are deceived.” Have I long to
see the end of this great trouble not that I wish the mat
ter settled prematurely or superficially rather. Years of
suspense of toil of battle. When this is settled then will
be a long period of
[ ? ] trade causal prosper. How
will the comforts of life abound us to before.
Long years must roll
[ ? ] see we are the same prosperous people
You will tell me at what time you intend going
home, so that I will lose no time in directing
your letters to all. Maj. Abbott is still in Mich. I
hardly able to ravel yet. I had a letter from
my sister Melia this P.M. Write me when you
can. Always bear in mind that your love is all
to me + should I fall in this struggle. Know
that I love you the same, better than all the world.
Use your wholly. Always darling pray for
Your
Will
[On Envelope:]
Miss Florence Clark
Care. C.B. Adams Esq.
Mount Morris
New York
William No. 78
June 17’’ 1862
Before Richmond
