Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/foreman-james-a/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned: Fair Oaks, Virignia; Williamsburg, Virginia
Historical Figures:
Friday evening June 27th
Dear Dollie
What a long weary ten months
I have passed in the army ten months
ago to day our regiment was sworn
into the service far three years I
was fool enough then to believe that
secession would soon be played out
and if alive go home again where my
thoughts so often wander. In looking
back to the past winter I can recall
some pleasant times but they were
few far I love society to well to enjoy
myself much in the army, my expectations
of seeing you and Paul again before
the three years is up is daily growning
less and less, how the secesh keep
bothering us, we have to fall into
line two or three times a day. they come
out to our Picket lines in small
squards and fire on them and them
of course the fire is returned and
we all have to fall in to
[ ? ] in readying
in case of an attack we were out
last evening until eleven a clock
and up again at three this morning
I predict that our army will be
repulsed here if so the south have
achieved there
independence
Did I tell you about the boy
that left Michigan with us
poo fellow he is dead now. he
was killed the other day in a skirmish
we had with the enemy he was
wounded in three places at the
battle of Williamsburgh and again
at Fair Oaks but the last fight
was to much for him
William Read is feeling verry
bad, he got ward yesterday that
Frank was dead. I think she
died with the brain fever. how
hard for his his poor little boy left
motherless and his father so far away
with no certainty of ever seeing
him again
How I wish this long expected fight
would come off we all know what
we have to do but the suspense
is worse than the battle. I do not
believe there is ten men. This
regiment but what would go
home tomorrow if they could
get a discharge. I am not enjoying
verry good health at present in
fact three is but few that are
really well in our company
Do you board at Stepensons and
how do you enjoy yourself there
you must go and see Paul pretty
often I wish you would not leave
him I guess something is
going to be done soon for me
for we have just had one hundred
and fifty rounds of cattridge
given us, our usual no is but
forty. I do not see how we can
carry them for I though we had
all we could carry before
presume when I write again I
shall either be in Richmond
back to Fortress Monroe or
Killed god knows which
you know a soldier must be
prepared for all such
emergencies some times I think
I will run away from the
army for I have got tetotally sick
of it but I know if I should I
could never look you in the face
again for I know you would
despise a deserter, and you know
I could not live without having
your respect, do not write but
verry little when you answer this
yours truly Jim
