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https://micivilwar.com/authors/foreman-james-a/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned: Corinth MS
Historical Figures: Henry W. Halleck
Friday Afternoon
Camp Winfield Scott May 2
Dear Dollie
What a short letter you wrote
me and yet it told all that I could
wish,
[ ? ], that you were nearly
well and that our dear boy was getting
so healthy and tought again
also how much I am missed for I am
verry boyish yet for how much
I love to have Dollie call me dear
I do not know how I should act
to be at home again I think
I should appear verry awkward
to sit down at a table or even
sleep in a bed. we have not seen
a woman since leaveing Alexandria
I have almost forgotten how they
look, no I have not either how
could I ever forget my wife +
Dollie I know I am not half as
good as you are nor can I believe
as you do not that I could doubt
in the least that our little girl
would be an angel but with
me at least I could have no
hope of ever seeing her, for when
the great giver takes suc children
from us he must mean then for
a highter and nobler destiny than to
associate with such am erring mortels
as I am
at least you must not
let her death worry you so much
for we have Paul left and you
must live for him it would
certainly be a pleasant thought
that on leaveing this wourld to be
united again in a purer and
better on but I fear that I can
believe nothing farther than
we see and know
I think the papers and your
informer as to the commencing and
defeat of our forces at Yorktown
are slightly mistaken. no general
engagement has commenced
yet or is it likely too far some
days to come to be sure we have
slight skirmishes almost evry
day when a few on both sides
are killed and wounded but
with no particular benefit to either
party it seems a little strange
that the rumor should reach there
that we were defeated we this
morning heard the painful rumor
that Gen Halleck was defeated at
Corinth Miss. how little did I think
when I was there that such a battle
would be fought there and so
many brave men loose there
lives but thus it is with war
I do not think that Paul
would remember me and I suppose
he has grown so that I should
not reccognise him. you reccollect
that he could not talk when I left
you and I know that we have
all changed a good eal since
then a few days ago we had some
new recruits come for our regiment
but it was remarked by all the difference
in our corks and actions so much for a
military life
last week I sent two letters in
one enclosing $5.00 directed to
Rough + ready did you get
them I also send five this
week and will do so next
week
should any thing turn up
I will write you again
Sunday ever yours
Jim
there has been a heavy cannonading
all day
