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https://micivilwar.com/authors/hogmire-mitchell-h/
Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: William S. Rosecrans
Camp at St Louis Mo April 22
Dear Jane R. Hogmire
I have a few moments to spare
and will improve them by penning
a few lines to you hoping they may
find you enjoying yourselves well
and the many blessings that are
to be had on Earth.
This leaves me well and all of the
rest of the Boys Albert is well and
is acting Orderly for the Colonel
Commanding the brigade Hatch
is his name We are having fine times
I tell you plenty of drill and of course
we all need that as it is healthy exer
-cise and prevents us from being
sick the Regt is very healthy now
and those that are sick has the
measles or small pox and these are few
Jane you will perceive by the state
that I commenced this on the 22nd and
now it is the 25th and last night
I received a letter from you which
bears the date of April 18th I can say
that it does me good to hear from
you all and to hear of you good health
We are now in the City of St. Louis
Guarding the Seces Prisoners they are
in a Building which was used
as a Medical College and called
McDowels College and we are in
a building used as a barding
house for the colleges and my mate and
myself has a bedroom and it is one
of the nicest places on the job as the
saying is got a straw tick and it
makes one of the nicest beds
And a Writing desk and everything
is No. 1 style and the prospeck is
that will stay here for a long time
the Regt we relived has been here for
six months or more and Col Moyers
says that General Rosecrans said
he would keep the 3rd Mich here as
long as he is in command and
for my part I hope he may be in com
mand until after the 6th of Sept next
But I think this looks to good for
us You spoke of the Draft Oh how I hope
it will make some of them that done away
with Local Bounties come down with
their squiblins or fight now I dont mean
all Democrats but I mean such men
as opposed raising Bounties It did
not affect Me why I say this but
It shows what a feeling there is for
the Man who leaves Home and all
of its comforts to go forth and wrestles
with the opposers of our National
Liberties. I dont mean to complain
of the Bounties of the state for they are
among the largest of the states But just
think of the Town of Arlington one of
the wealthyest town in Van Buren
County and not one cent I say it is
a shame…and that is all I can say
so I will let it drop.
We will have fine times if we stay
here this summer I wish it were so
you could come down here for it would
pay you I know for you can see some of
the homlyest women I do believe that ever
lived and black is the name for it some say
it is caused by their burning so much
coal if this be the case I think it best
to do away with burning coal
Oh I did tell you how many prisoners
we have to guard They say in all about
700 hundred or more of these there is some
16 to be shot and these are chaned to the floor
they are a hard looking set I can tell you
and here let me say I will do some tall
fighting or runing before I will be a Pris
oner of war I think
Jane Give my best respects to all enquire
friends and kiss Trudy for me
and write as often as you can
Excuse all mistakes and brevity
Yours truly
Mitchell H. Hogmire
I will give you the news more next time I write for we have just
got set up here
