Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/hogmire-mitchell-h/
Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Sterling Price, Ulysses S. Grant
Corinth, Sept 28th 63
Dear Wife I received your letter
last night & the first I have received from
you since I left home you & mother seem
to think that I have been negligent about
writing this is all I have to say I have writen
five letters home & if you have not got them
I am not to blame the mail has been
stoped for nearly 2 weeks on account
of the pending battle with Grant &
Price. Grant was fearful that Price
might cut off the mail & thereby post
him in regard to our position
Ed is out on a scout with our party he
drew his horse saddle & equipage yesterday
morning & at noon started out on a
scout he has a nice horse. Ed likes it
well & all of the rest of us Ike is in the
hospital but is getting along fine he got
two letters from home yesterday & I
took them to him James Gilbert is
not very well yesterday was the first
time I have seen the company they have
been out on a scout ever since we came
here & could not get to them. I am with
the Bagage train & dont know when
I shall got to the company for they did
not have horses enough to mount all
of the men Jane I have been trading
some since I came here I bought a fiddle
for $1.25cts & traded it for a Revolver &
sold the revolver to John Swan for $10. doll
to be paid next pay day next bought some
jewelry & have sold some of it & will send
you home some of the profits I made $15. doll
in one day & will send it to you & do with it
as you may think best but as for paying
Uncle bill for going out there dont want
you to do it for he agreed to find himself
next time I write I will send you some
more if nothing happens more than I know
of now I will write to Duane & let him
know about my buisiness at Burr Oak
etc. etc Mother wants to know why Ed did
not send them any more money this is the
reason I know Ed was sick at Detroit &
could not live on such food as we got & so
he bought his own & the reason I sent home
so much more was that James Gilbert owed me
two dollars & I saved five but Jim did not
pay me will next pay day we did not draw
as much money as we thought we should
we drew $25. bounty & 1 months pay 13 doll & $2 doll
premium in all making $40. dollars in all
I have kept some money to send to Burr Oak
Now I will give you a small idea of our
situation we are located on the south side
of a hill about 100 rods from the Citty
of Corinth it must been a nice place
before the war broke out but you dont
know how desolate war makes a place
look & I hope to God you never may see our state
in such a condition as this is
I have not seen a school house since
I left home & for the farms they have got
good land but it is improved in
spots here & thare. All the duty we have
to do is to stand on guard 2 days
in 6 eat & drink what we have & it
is good enough for soldiers
it consists of Biscuits Bacon & coffee
& now & then a mess of sweet potatoes
but we will live better when we can
get to our company for then we can
jay hawk Oh I must tell I saw
Charley Luce he looked tough as a buck but
has been sick he told me to tell Granpa
that he was going to send him some
money as soon as he drew his pay
he was at the battle of Iuka but not
in the action tell them all to write
& give me the news in regard to my
nursery & all of the news in general
excuse all mistakes & render good
for evil by writing me a good long letter
now it may be that I can write to
you in 1 day & it may be 1 month
but I want you to write to me as
often as you can I may get them & I may
not but write. You can take such paper as you
may think best kiss Trudy for me
& hope for the best Yours until death
M. H. H.
Direct to
Mich 3rd Cav. Co C Army of the Missippi
