Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/camp-john-w/
Regiment: 18th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Charles Doolittle, Green C. Smith
Camp Ella Bishop
Saturday Jan 31 /63
Dear Parents and Sisters,
I received a letter from you some time ago and was very glad to hear
from home once more. I should have answered your letter before but I have
been sick and did not feel like writing. I am far from well at the present time. I
have not done any duty for about three weeks. There has been some change
here lately. The 18
th Ohio Battery is gone leaving our section here, the 45 Ohio
regiment, the 18
th Kentucky, the 7
th and 8
th Ohio Cavalry have all left here for
the South. Gen. Green Clay Smith is also gone, Col. Doolittle succeeds him as
Commander of this brigade. Desertions are frequent from the troops here.
Several deserted from the Battery before they left here. There was one drummed
through the camp and sentenced to wear a ball and chain for 90 days and forfeit
10 dollars a month of his pay for 12 months, but his sentence has been
commuted so far as the pay is concerned. There appears to be a spirit of
discontent throughout the entire army. The soldiers are getting tired of fighting
under incompetent leaders. There is to much gilt edge about our Generals. They
are too much afraid of hurting the rebels to ever bring this war to a close. They
may fight and fight but it will have to be settled by compromise at last. The
weather is very bad here. It has rained more or less for the last three or four
weeks. It rained all night and it is still raining to day. The mud is almost knee
deep. Muriette, you may tell Ann that I am well acquainted with Noe and Gooding
but about they being intimate friends I can not say. Mr. Eddy was here a few
night ago. He said that Father told him to come and see me and see if I wanted
to come home. He said that you told him if I did you could get me away, now this
all contrary to what you have been writing to me. Now if you can, why don’t you
do it and not wait for me to tell you so many times that I would come home if I
could get a discharge. Mother I hear that you are worrying about me. You must
not do it., You are only making your self sick and besides it can do me no good.
Now be of as good cheer as you possibly can and I will do the same. No more at
present, my love to you all
