Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/paddock-byron-d/
Regiment: 1st Michigan Light Artillery
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Coldwater July 24th 1864
Sunday Evening
My Dear Byron
It is one of there [ ? ]
afternoon when one feels so sleepy that
even nothing seems an exertion. You
probably would “enjoy it hugely” I don’t. I
shall propose to Uncle the neccessity in
getting our new home of an old fashion
brick oven for our benefit so to have
a comfortable heal when you come home
Nothing but writing you little boy would
tempt me to even think today but
have been so happy in getting two letters
from you this week that I am very
willing to answer them not-with-standing
the heat, and how I wish you were
hereto engage it. But how
[ ? ] have
I felt the vanity of wishes since you went
back.
You say you are not well. Now
you promised me not-to-
[ ? ] if you
were sick, cant you have a furlough
now and let “ n
[ ? ] men take the
charge” I dont blame him for it I wouldant
shot if I could help it self preservation &c. you
know is-is to bad to have you sick there
with all the rest you have to endure. Why
didint you go to the hospital you wouldint
have to fight then. Wont you ever learn to
care for your self. I think I should be wuite
frightened to know you were at one
[ ? ] it
would be out of danger and would be the
[ ? ] wil of the two. I dont like to think of
you alway’s as on a battle field.
[ ? ] Capt Demming be of come took
some friends to miss him but when
I read it in the paper I couldint
help feeling thankul that it wasint
Capt Paddock all though I didint know
that you were near being the one. I
wonder you even let hime go
[ ? ]
seem as willing even anxious to be
in every battle and I am more
anxious you shouldint be there. My
dear Byron it seems such a long
long time since you were here and
what would I do if you should never
come. Dont be so anxious for danger.
I had almost rather
have you “nervous”
Dont ask me what I done the 4th I
have written you I think of it but my remem-
brance of it now is that I was
[ ? ]
and lonesome and didint see
any one I wouldint or go any where
worth mentioning unless it was to
the country. Every thing conspired
to make the day miserable no
letter from you and Bradleys last
day at home, as dear when will
this “
[ ? ] war be over” when there
we love can be with us and no
thoughts of when they must leave.
My dear boy wont I be happy every
minute when you get home I dont
believe I shall ever think it worth awhile
to be trouble with any thing unless you
insist on enlisting in the next war
How come one section of the Battery
to be in town, and who is in command.
John will be Lieut in Norm’s place is it
Serg’t wood. You ask if I remember him
I rather think I have a faint rembrace
of his call at our house
I from you are being converted into a
good abolitionist and have the good
of the dear negro at heart will you
adopt the boy and I will find a girl
here to place any philanthropic
affections on. I always know before the
war closed you would be Republican
Dr. Crawford was just good to send
you that d
[ ? ], wish I could
send you a nice dinner there
miserable day’s and the Ice crème to
but I should be a little particular who
they say you will marry (say Miss
Haven’s for instance) I have a Photograph
of you that looks as if you had been
fed like the Irishmans
[ ? ]. Do you
look so now.
