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Regiment: 6th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: James E. B. Stuart
[twocolumns]
Washington DC Feb 8 63
Head Qtrs. Co I 6th Regt. Mich. Cavalry
Estemed friends Uncle
your very friendly and most
welcom leter is recived with great
pleasure and contends notice tho I have
delaid writing on acount of my business
being so urgent but I have a very little
time to spare on this beautifull sabath day
My dear uncle you have spoken of many
things in your leter that I will not be able
dwell very lengthly upon but I will endever
to give som reply tho it will bee very short
as my helth is a little impaird from
constant duty thaut I have ben compled to
perform for a few weeks past all the officers
in my company have ben sick and very sick
indeed tho they are recovering sloley one never
will be able to do millitary duty again
he has resined and is expecting to leave for
home in a few days uncle you speak of many
difrent disasters in our armey I must confess
often herd it said thait the darkest hour
was first beofre daylight I think myself
thait we have had traitors to lead our brave
soldiers to battle and to deth over
I often see the effects of poor mange-
ment or at least I think it is bad mangement
or as you say there is a fulit som whare but
I will not critasize I will leave that to the
offisals to look after but you speak of enemy
in the rear as well as in the front I am
compeld to acknowllage that us a fact but
I trust the time will com when northern
men will bee ashamed of their counduct at
this deserate strugle of our country When she
needs all of her suns to stand by her like
noble men I sincerely believe that all the hopes
that the southern confederacy has to incourage
them is that there will bee a northern confederacy
I sometimes think there will be a confederacy in
the north but I have one hope and that is this
if we have a god in heaven he never will let
this government be distroid nor this union
be severd but will strengthen the just ones
and permit the stars and stripes to float over
the united states in triumph over all of
its foes tho it may caus the death of many a brave
soldier tho it may bee my lot to fall but
my friends can bee shure if I fall that I
sleep on the fields with the brave if I had no
wife and no children to mourn my loss I would
think it an honor to die on the battlefield
in the defense of my country but I expect in
a few days more I will introduce myself and
and about seventy five men to the
rebel General Stuart he is the great
general with cavalry he is making raids
near us every day or two, we are now
under marching orders of apart of our
Regt is expecting to moove from her
and make an attack on Stuarts cavalry
we expect to bee gon about ten days I think
of my friends and my wife and children I have
som considerable of money by me which I will
enclose and expres to my wife tomorrow for
fear I may meet with som sad misfortune
I will say a few words about my brave company
of men they are ancious to have me lead them
in battle they promis to follow me to
victory or death I am cheard by them evry
day I love them and care for them and
[ ? ]
for their welfare and
[ ? ] and will at the
risk of my own life I have no fear of beling kild
not in the least and if I had no little children
to morn my loss I never would think of it but
if I fall I will not uter one single mermer
for my cause is just and glorious My Dear
uncle you speak of the west and ask me about the
country whare I am acquainted I will say but little
to you about it only that I am suited with it
I will further say that it is very new yet and
suits me very mutch tho my buisnesss is
lumbering when I am at home there is plenty
of farming land in that country
and a great many men are coming in
and taking the benefit of the homesteads
law but I will say that it is a hard place
for all men but I would advise young men
to go there for them a home it is the place
for smart actives laboring young ment they
cant help but do well tho I dont wish to
advise any one to go then for if they don’t like
or did not do well then they would blame
me for their misfortune it is getting late and
I must close this leter for I know what I have
writen will not interrest you for it has ben
writen in a great hurry I have but little time
to write and it is now eight oclock at night
and I have a number leters to write on buisness
besides a good deal of company records to fix out
before wee leave here wee have a number men in
the hospital that I have got to make them a
discriptive list so that they can get their pay
if I am not here I desire to have every thing corect
will oblige me very mutch in repying to it at
your earliest opturnity and if I have any experience
in battle and com out all right I will write yo
the hole particulars about my seens you will
give my regards to all of my friends and
acquaintance and oblige Truly yo most obedient servant
Lieut R. A. Moon
[On Envelope:]
Mr Edmund Cook
Cornellsvill
Steuben Co
M[/twocolumns]
