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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George B. McClellan, Melancthon S. Wade
Headquarters Camp Near Ft Lyon
5
th Reg’t Michigan Volunteers, Comp D
December 02 1861
Dear Dollie
it is a little singular that
my letters have not reached you. I
wrote you two letters I think within
a wekk but it seems that they have
miscarried but perhaps they may
reach you yet if not I will
merely say that I expressed $15.00
to you and addressed to Orve at
St Johns which place it has no
doubt reached ere this I hope you
will get my other letters for I
gave
you the particulars why I could not
send you any more money you reccollect
I promised you twenty dollars each pay
day I shall do this if I can but Father
tells me that Smith will have to be paid
in Febuary consequently I shall have
to send that nex pay day
You must not worry about me
for I shall get along well enough
it is true that I have been quite
unwell for the last few weeks
but I have been down to Alexan-
-dria and got me some medicine
and it is helping me verry much
and I think in a few days I shall
be all right again
In regard to the wars not lasting
a great while that is of course verry
uncertain but I am of the opinion
that it will be closed by early
summer. The indications here now
are the we are going into winter
quarters if so we shall probably not
have any fighting in this section
for the rebels will have to give
up Virginna to send there troops
further south in fact they will
soon have to vacate Manapas or
be out flanked. and there again we may
advance on them to wipe out the
ball run affair. but McClellens
policy so far has not been to fight
where a victory would be about
as dear as a defeat for it would
probably cost the life of ten thousand
men to march through the gap
Has little Paul grown much and
how much does he weigh but I suppose
I can see when I get the likeness
I can not make it seem to me that
he can talk for you know when I came
away from you he could not say any
thing. Dollie one of our boys in my mess
is quite sick to day I have just been bothering
his neck and face and put a cold wet
cloth on his forehead it is about the
only time that I could ever bear to do
any thing for a sick person but here
we all seem like brothers. how I wish
you was here to take care of him for
I know what a good hand you are
to take care of the sick. Alma has
just written me a great long yarn about
what that old she devil Mrs Ferris has
been saying about the soldiers I believe
she has them all named and hopes
there men will get shot. I shall pen
her a few lines shortly and give her
my opinion of the noble cause she is
engaged in. Gen Wade said that
he had answered Trudes letter and
would write her again it has undoubtedly
miscarried has Lib got a school this winter
and what are the boys doing. has orve
bought that land yet. you ought
to be here this winter to eat oysters we
can yet all we can eat brought
right to our tents for ten cents they are
great fat luscious fellows about as big
as your fist if you will come down some
day I will buy you all you can eat wont
you come remember your weekly letter
