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Regiment: 1st Michigan Light Artillery
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Henry Moses Judah
Bowling Green KY
June 2nd 1863
Dear Hattie
Although still confined to my
tent and not able for duty. Yet I feel strong
enough to try and answer thou two long letters
that I have recd during my illness.
I am sure they did me more good than all
my medicine. I have had my clerk do all
my writing for several days; but letters to you
I prefer writing myself.
It is just as I expected, you wanted to get
my picture to make fun of. Now I think
that I shall have regularly from this time on
just for spite. Then it is so cool and comfort
able to have ones whiskers off! Really I wonder
that I neglected shaving so long. And then an
other great object for so doing is that with them
off a young lady about your size cant pull them
until I cry for mercy.
Arriving the various packages that I recd from
Coldwater sometime
[ ? ] was one containing
some dried peaches marked “from a friend”
who that friend is I dont know. Well since
I have been well I told my cook to get some
of these peaches and stew them for me. He
did so and brought me a package of berries
that he found inside of the other paper and in
that was
[ ? ] the name of
[ ? ].
Now you just tell Nettie that I should
have acknowledged this receipt of it long ago had
I known hat she has sent me one.
I am obliged to add another to that fifteen that
I serve home before I
[ ? ]. And that is
Mr. O. J. Barker Bennies brother-in-law. I recd a
letter from his mother saying that Mr. Baker was
dead. That her three sons were in the army her
daughters all married off and gone and she
left alone. And wanted me to let him come
home and stay a few days with her for she
was so very lively. Who could deny an afflicted
mothers request. Such as this; I cant and am
going to let him go on the 5
th. Wouldint you
do the same? I shall try and come to see
you about Christmas if alive and well.
But that is a long way off you will say. Yes
but it will even roll round and then I will
try and get a furlough for a month at least.
Perhaps I may resign by that time and then
you will not need to coax me to stay.
Enclosed I send you a Photograph of Gen. Judah
I deny the charges set forth in
that paper in
[ ? ]. To tell the truth of am
afraid of these Secesh girls for they look as though
they might bite. I dare not talk to
[ ? ] of
them for we should
[ ? ] to quarriling about into
North and South; and
[ ? ] I certainly should not
date to kiss our
[ ? ] of getting covered with
paint. So you se
[ ? ] the utter absurdity of the
charges.
10 o’clock A. M. the Paymaster has been here
since I began writing: paid us, and has
[ ? ]
again. Cant you find a good cooking widow
er to correspond with and let me still continue
to sorrespond with Mrs. Tyler. Or rather Lt.
Andrews and myself for I have never within
a letter to her
[ ? ]. It is so pleasant to write
to good cooking widows and young at that.
But candidly I think Mrs. Tyler is very much
of a lady and she writes very sensible letters.
It seems as though she never would
[ ? ] to mourn
pros Tylers death they though the world of each
other. Two Regiments left here a few days
ago and an order has been issued to have
Kentucky troops as fast as
[ ? ] talks the
places of the old troops and they be sent
to the front. So there is a
[ ? ] prospect of
our getting marching orders in the course of time.
Then you did deny being engaged
and did so for the purpose of flirting with
some of these gay young officers I suppose. How
natural it is for
[ ? ] girls to flirt and
break the hearts of
[ ? ] invent young men
poor fellows
I know [ ? ] to pity them. But the
ladies will get beat
[ ? ] our game some
times and I suppose that was the case with
some of those who flirted with members of the
9
th Cavalry.
The weather is very warm and pleasant in
this part of the country. Still it does not
appear to be healthy at present. I have been
sick much more this season so far than I
was last whether it is caused by the climate
or by continued exposure I was not able to say
But hope that I shall soon regain my
health fully and be able to stand the hard
-ships of he summer + fall campaign.
Wich I was with you now think hat I
should get well soon. It is useless to wish
but then one cant avoid
[ ? ] to be with
friends and loved ones when they are sick
But I am tired and must close
for I hardly think you can read half that
I have already written.
Please write often and when I get well
shall write such long letters and so often too
that you will cry for mercy.
As ever accept love of
Byron
