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https://micivilwar.com/authors/longyear-william-d/
Regiment: 8th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Washington Sept. 8, 1862
Dear Mother and all, I am in the city of Washington. We started from Detroit last Friday and
arrived here last night. I felt well till Saturday night when I was taken sick on the cars. I
commenced vomiting and kept it till most morning. We laid over Sunday and I was taken good
are of. I feel very well this morning only weak, but we have heard news. The rebels are marching
on this place and they say we have to fight tonight. Troops are marching in here all the time. We
were in Baltimore yesterday, and there were 30 men poisoned, they were none of ours. There
were between 1 & 200 men of us that came from Detroit. We have not seen our Regt. yet, it is
about 4 mile from here. I cannot write but a little for I don’t know when we may be called on to
march. I went up around the capitol this morning. I had my likeness taken this morning and I send it. A number of our boys are unwell. We had such poor water in the barracks. We have fared better since we left Detroit. I must close now.
(a little more. They say our whole army is to meet the rebels. I tell you that a soldiers life is pretty rough, and most of the soldiers too, by what I have seen. They are to be pitied. I have seen lots of wounded ones, but I must stop) Direct your letters to
Wm. D. Longyear
Co. K 8th Regt Mich Vols Washington, D.C.
