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https://micivilwar.com/authors/keeler-alonzo-m/
Regiment: 22nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George Thomas, James B. Steedman, Ulysses S. Grant
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Chattanooga, Tenn
June 17, 1865
Martin, Flora, John, Bruce and Ella
Dear Children,
I have been hoping for a long time that I should get released and get home with you
before this. But everything is so unsettled that it has seemed necessary to keep us until
now. Orders have to pass from General Thomas to General Steedman and then to the
Brigade Commander and from him to the Commander of the Regiment. So an order for
us to go to Nashville was within 40 rods of us yesterday and it has gone 30 miles off to
go to the Brigade Commander and it will probably come back tonight. Then we shall
know what it is. So much you see for what is called “red tape”. General Grant would
not issue an order to me. He would order General Thomas. General Thomas would order
General Steedman. General Steedman would order Colonel LeFavour (because he
commands the Brigade). Colonel LeFavour would order LtCol Dean (he commands my
Regiment) and LtCol Dean would order me if General Grant wanted me to do anything.
All orders must go through regular hands. It seems like a useless round about way of
doing things. But it (here Col Dean caught a little gray kitten and put it on my letter, so I
had to stop. Kitty looks like a little tiger) is a very safe way and a very easy way of doing
business when we get used to it. I think however I can do business other ways hereafter
just as well. Today while Colonel Dean and I were at General Steedman’s Headquarters
a long, gaunt, rebel came in and said that when the battle of Mission Ridge was fought
his wife was obliged to leave his house and go down into Georgia. He said his bedding
and furniture and everything but the bare house was taken. And that the house was
injured very much. That there was some railroad men living in his house now. But he
had not been to see them about it. He had heard that they said he could not have it. He
wanted to know what could be done for him. One of the General’s staff officers told him
to go and see the men for he presumed they would let him into his house. They asked
him where he was when this happened. He said he was in the Rebel Army. So he need
not look for quarters around his deserted home until he can show how he came to be there
in the Rebel Army. He will have to stand out in the cold until somebody can open the
door for him. I am sure I don’t want to be a rebel just now. This poor miserable long
shaken fellow probably thought he was doing something smart to rebel against his
country. Now he comes back ashamed, not daring to call his head his own, asking the
government to help him get his home back, that his rebel wife ran out of. They have
encouraged rebels to starve union soldiers to death, union men that had dear ones at home
ready to do anything to help them in their sufferings. But his man helped to keep
comforts from them. Such men are not be pitied much by me. He can stand out in the
cold a little longer for all me. But it is mail time. Mr. Hilton has just called and I must
visit with him a little.
Affectionately your father,
A.M. Keeler
Maj, 22″d Michigan
