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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp 8th Mich. Infty
Before Petersburg Va
Friday, March 24th 1865
Dear Father
Yours of the 12th inst. I recei-
ved last evening It was due last Monday.
I have writen to Wealthy this Am. but as she
is not now at your house I shall have to
write the same news to both. I wrote to you the 15
th
+ 17
th inclosing in my last a receipt for a box which
I expressed home. It will however be of no account
for should the box be lost. I will undoubtedly be the
loser for it will be impossible to notify the Express Company
here, of its non arrival within the time specified in
receipt. The weather has been most favorable
for a movement of the army but there are not as
much signs of a move now as there were when last
I wrote. The impression is gaining ground that
there will be no more severe fighting + that we will
remain where we are unless Lee moves his army.
This Company has got orders to build new quar-
ters. most of the other companys having already
built. As the weather has become warm, we shall
build above ground, 4 in a tent,. I shall hereafter
probably tent with none I have been with before
I should have tented with Parshall but our
tent was small + a neighbor of his came to the
Regt + they put up a tent together about a month ago
On the 14
th inst the enemy who have been in front of
us all winter were relieved by other troops + since then the
opposing pickets have been on the most friendly terms
The space between the picket lines (about to
[ ? ]) is
in the day time by men of both parties at their sports
often mingling together + conversing, chasing rabits in
company + collecting wood to burn. No firing night or day
Last Wednesday I came off picket at 3 p.m. We + the
[ ? ] caught 5 rabits that day between our lines
in a piece of undergrowth of pine. We let them have the
rabits being content with the sport. Tuesday night 4
deserters came in to us but one expected them for they told
us they would come. Yesterday one deserted came in in the daytime
Last monday there was the most artillery firing here there
has been since we have been at this camp. commencing at
2 am. + not stopping till 8 oclock. Only one shall
struck in our camp. Fort Morton being the enemys
target. The number of shots were about equal, but we exceed
ed them in the accuracy of our firing. Our
could not have gone better. In the evening I counted
7 mortar shells in the air at one time.
Wednesday after coming off picket I went over to the 26
th
Regt. I staid over night with Albert. + the next
morn went over to the 5
th infty. ate dinner with my
friends in Co. “E” + in P.M. witnessed the review
of the 2
nd Corps. ate supper with Albert, spent the
evening with him + Lafayette + then came back
to this camp on foot arriving here about midnight
I saw McCrary + M Tole who was over to see McCrary
They are both well Mc seems very confident of a
speedy termination to the war + talks different from
what he did, I think the draft has affected a refor
mation in one of its subjects at least Corp B
overlock + Sergt O’Donnal sinkley are the only 2 men
in my old Co that I saw 2 others whom I knew
are home on furlough. Sinkley was the man Luther
tented with after I came away. He saw Luther after
he was wounded, says he did not suppose he had
received a mortal wound says that Luther
then had his medal “Kearney Cross” fastened on
his coat, thinks it was buried with him as was Howe’s
+ Hazard’s with them. The Co was never officially
notified of his death. If I had time I should have
hunted up Hosp Steward Shrievey
Having seen the Adjutant General’s report of 1864
+ Luther’s name not being there in as it should
he with the others who fell in that battle. I
made some effort to have his name in the next
I saw the Adjutant of the Regt + he took Luthers
name and time of death + said he would write
to the Adjutant General of the State + have his name
appear in the report of 1864 if he could.
Perhaps it would be well for you to write to the
Adjutant General + see if it is corrected after a while
I am very anxious that his name should appear
in the records of the State particularly in the
“Roll of Honor.” My name does not appear
in the records as it should + as all the others
do that have been discharged, which was the fault
of the officer commanding the Company but I care
but little for I have my discharge paper to show that I
have been in the service before. I said nothing to the
Adjutant about myself. I expect another letter
from you tonight + hope to hear of the arrival of
that check which I sent. I guess you will need
your spectacles to read this, but I cant write
short letters
Your Affectionate Son
J. Franklin Elbridge
