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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Head Quarters 1st Brig Cav. Div
Carrollton, GA
April 13, 1865
Aunt,
Your “went back on me” a little in your last letter didn’t you, for not writing and sent me rather a
short letter instead of a good long one such as you used to write. Now Aunt I was not at all to
blame. I had written to you since I received anything from you and of course was not at all in
your debt. Those clumsy mails of Uncle S- must bear the blame again.
Last night I got a “Grand Rapids Eagle” from you I suppose as I saw your name penciled on the
margin. I was surprised to get that paper from Ohio. Enclosed were a couple of programmes of
the theatrical performances for the benefit of the “Alert Club” at which I should have been most
happy to have been present. We are all enjoying the very best of health. The regiment never had
as little sickness since coming into the service as there has been for the last three or four months.
Our camp is about five miles from the city of New Orleans but I expect it will be here but a few
days longer as we are under orders to go to Mobile and are only waiting for the necessary
transportation. Probably the next time I write to you we shall be somewhere in Alabama. All the
folks were well when last heard from. My wife is going out to Albion visiting.
We have had very warm weather here for some time. It would seem rather irregular to you to see
the season so far advanced at this time of the year. Roses have been in blossom for six weeks and
everything else according.
The Miss. River near which we are camped has been and is still very high. It presents a very
peculiar appearance confined to its channel, as it is by levees and only kept from flooding the
whole country for hundreds and hundreds of miles by those artificial embankments. The surface
of the river is from six to ten feet above the level of the whole surrounding country which is very
low and flat, so that in fact it has the appearance of winding its way along on the crest of a hill
which is the only hill that can been for hundreds of miles. It is a singular spectacle to stand
back from the river and see steamers sailing along far above you so much so that you have to look
up to see them. If you have ever read Bull Run Russell’s “Diary North and South” you have
noticed that he speaks of the trees of the forests in this vicinity being covered with Spanish moss
or Lillandsier. It is one truth among the many lies that he has told and it gives the forest a
very dismal and somber appearance.
By the way if you have not read that book it will pay a perusal just to show how far the prejudices
of a man will carry him from the truth when the events he is describing are passing under his very
eyes.
New Orleans is a very find city but the inhabitants are at heart rebels that is a large number of
them. But it won’t do them any good. Richmond is ours, Petersburg is ours, Mobile is ours,
Lee’s army is broken up, Jeff Davis a fugitive from his own capital and what must become of the
rotten concern the Southern Confederacy. The end is not far off and I think the people of the
south will be as glad to have the war terminated as we of the north. Give my kindest regards to
all the friends and write soon.
Address
Capt. O. W. Rowland
Hd Qts, 3rd Mich Cav New Orleans, LA.
