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Regiment: 9th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Capitol Hill Marshall
Thursday May 22nd 1862
Dear Brother
As I am hear alone to night I thought
I would write a few lines to, to let you know
that we are all well and hope this will find you
the same. This week Maria has received four
letters, and Libbie one from you besides three papers
Mother has been down here this afternoon and Maria
and p
[ ? ] has gone home with her Ma came down all a
lone with one of the horses they can get a buggy
of one of their neighbors any time they want it
and mother can drive so you see it makes it
quite handy for her Maria has never been
out there since they moved and Ma was
[ ? ]
she should go to night. News we dont have
any only war news wich you know as well as
us, in to days paper there was a call for
100 000 more men if that is so the home guard
will have to go I should think. Captain
Cogswell came home night before last he
was twenty three days acoming he was delayed on
the ship. he has fetched lots of presants to
her and the children he gave her a very nice silk
dress at $1.50 per yard and Minine one but I dont
know how much it was a yard and a great
many other things we dont know whether they
was paid of before he left or wether he sold
his Pay roll he is a going back next Tuesday
I believe. Mr McCall that went to the Baptice
church you now him, he was some relation of
Elder Palmer. he died last tuesday and was buried
yesterday he had the typhoid fever he was only
sick one week he left a wife and three little
children destitute of every thing. Liet Col Silden
Earham was brought home yesterday from Tennessee
very sick with the same fever and Mr Dibbles
second son about 16 years old is very sick with the
same they did not expect him to live from one
minute to the other yesterday and he may be dead
now. there are a good many sick with that fevor
here and a great many soldiers coming home.
One of the Army boyes came with Cogswell
and I believe he is a going to stay.
Mr Bisher the miller, was married last monday
to Miss Lucy Spaulding of Marshall his wife has
been dead just a bout six month that was a
long time to wait, dont you think so! Now
I have told you all the news I know I must
close for it is nearly school time and I must
go to school. Our school lets out in five weeks
and then we have nine weeks vacation we have
a very good school now and I like it very much.
The weather is very pleasant and this morning
the birds are sing and every thing looks nice
although for the last two or three days back
it has been cold enough to wear blanket shouls
we have some flowers out and the garden looks
very nice you said in one
[ ? ] letters that
you had just been eating a
[ ? ] tin cup full
of strawberries I think that they must
have tasted very good having them so early for
it will be a long time before we have any here
although our vines are very full of blossoms.
Well I must stop now as I will be late.
Hoping we will hear from you soon.
I remain your little sister
Kittie E Billings
PS Carris: Maria has got her bonnet fixed
all over and it very nice indeed and it cost
her to have it altered and trimed was 75 cents
And I have commenced to go to Sabbath school
I went last Sunday twice to church and to
Sabbath school pretty good for one Sunday
dont you think so?
Kittie
Camp Parkhurst, Murfreesboro, May 28th 1862
My dear Sister Kittie, It was indeed with pleasure I received your very welcome letter
dated May 22
th and as you see hasten to answer it immeadatly and that on the
same cheet your letter to is written on, and therefore send your own letter
bak again with my answer.
Dear Kittie I dont take this method, because I am in scout of paper, or other
writing materials, on the contrary I have plenty of that, the reason why I do this
is not because I dislike your letter
[ ? ] I am very much pleased with it and I
want to keep it and this is the only way to keep it that is to sent it home again,
as I have no room in my knapsack to keep my letters, I have to burn up every
letter I get from home, and to be sure I want to see some of your letters after
I get home.
I was very glad to hear, that you and the rest of your, ar well, and hope
that you may continue so for a long time to come and as for my own health
I can say that I feel quite well now and able to go with our regiment to
morrow morning on a scouting exspedition, about 60 miles south of here,
we will be gone from here at 5 or 6 days, but we dont take our
tents now knapsack, all we take is our haversack and canteen, filled with
rations and water, and our rubber, and wollen blanket, where we ar
a going I do not know, and what we ar a going to do I do not know
at any rate time will tell and I will let you know here after!
The wether is quite warm and vegtables and strawberrys ar plenty, but dear,
Now I know none, and have not time to write a long letter this afternoon
and therefore I must close with my best wishes for you.
from your affectionate Brother
Jacob Carris.
P.S. give my Love to Maria and all.
[On Envelope:]
Miss Kittie Billings
in Care of Mrs. Jacob Carris
Marshall, Calhoun Co.
Michigan
