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Regiment: 1st Michigan Engineers
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Ulysses S. Grant
Head Quarters,
First Reg. Michigan
Co. F, Engineers and Mechanics
Camp Brigeport Alabama June 14
th 1864
With intention as I have
maid up my mind to send you a few
more lines as I do not feel satisfied abot
the matter I did not think as Mr. Lawson
was such a man as he is I though that there
ware some thing long with not riting to me no
more but you never mind it will do him
no good and you can tell Mr. Van that I
told Nick and he said that he would rite
to him at non Sunday and I find that I
have not had time for Answer from that
money as now has had a answer only one
and you letter is dated on the 8 and some
is dated no late as the 9 and has not received
no answer yet as we all look for a answer
this week or the fore part of the next as I
hope and trust you will gett it safe I
have got the receit for it and if you do
not get it send me word and I will atend
to hit as I sued in my other letters from
Huntsville Alabama to Detroit June 1
st
and they have my name on the receit from
W Slayter to J Varnralkurgh as you will
not find it the same Directions on the envelope
inside of the package as if he will send a
receit by some one that is going in to Detroit
to Addams Express Co I think he will gett it
and it is paid for you must excuse me for
riting do much but I want some thing to
pass away time and the Docter ordered me
to keep still and all the rest is out at work
so I though I would send you a few more lines
and I feel a great deal better to day I think
I shall go to work to morrow and I want you
to day nothing at all to Dr Downer as I say
about William Downer or any of the boys nor
regement forwards slip verry easy and get
back and then I shall hear of them and I
do not want to do so just the same as
John Camel he asked me if I new Uncle
Joe Yearkas farm I told him that I did and
he said that head bough it and the rumor
in the regement is that he is a big liar as he
told a confounded lie to the Captain
and I though that I would ask you and
no the truth and Pouck Eldred son George
said that the railroad was being built
from wayne and most finished to Plymouth
I told him I though it strange as I had never
heard of it so I though I would ask you and
now you see how it is us the might of told me
the truth for it would of done them as much
good and wat had John Camel to tell me
captain such a confounded lie for it apears
that some men as a lie in there mouth all
the time and it so done them no good at
all for it is just as good to tell the truth
for the truth is sure to be found out and
I hope you can send me the hat before I go
to Georgia and if Mr. Van gets my letters and
getts the money from Starkweather he will
no how to ask and I expect by this time that
you both have got four or five for I never rote
to him but I rote to you and told you and
o how I do want to get out of this miserable
dirty nasty place I think if we can get on
the railroad again for we have some chance
to get some stuff such as butter eggs and so on
butter is worth a dollar hear perbb and every
thing acordingly you say that you want me to
take care of my selfe if I ware to live as I did
at home my wages wood be nothing but I want
my family to have a share of them I did not
come in the Army to keep my family short and
does not intend to do it the most that I spend
is in Tobacco and in Paper and envelopes I be going
to pay two or three dollars for a gold pen
I think that I would rather do so then do as some
of the others does spending everything and buying
up everything I have had men to day to borrow
money and got ther pay with I did and I now
how I ware served before with lending money
it was good while the got it and then I could go
to Dixy for it I will asure you I have not spent
much since I came in the Army I uste to think
how they boys spent ther wages but now I do no
most anyone will credit another till the pay
and we have a suttler or wat you might call
a small store and he will gibe them credit I
no some of there bills to be thirty Dollars and
over and he getts the pay before them I supose we
am going to have four months pay and it starts
from the first of may and some is with out money
now and borrow all the time and I think that
some of them is in for it for they have expressed
there money home
[ ? ] there wifes and famileys and
I though that it would not do and I am glad thats
I did not express it to you of corse I do not
want you to loose the pay from the superviser
and I supose that is one thing as makes Mr.
Lawson mad but if it does not come in one
way praps it will come in a nother and they
cant elp there selfes but I do not see the
[ ? ] why other ones should trouble there
selves about my afairs and there is one thing
is I spoke to you a bout if you would sefor
me to see if that grave as fallen in and if
it ask only wish that you would see Mr
Van or you see and get some one and fill it
and get two new stakes and put at each
and of it for may be I will want to see it
some day or other and it is as little as I can
to as I can not atend to it I do not hear as
they have took Richmond yet I want them
to take it verry bad I think they have had
a hard struggell for it but I rather think
General Grant will have it before he stops
but the Rebbs is afraid of Lincon that he
will be elected again and they say if he is
that they are gon up and if that is the case
I hope and trust to God that he will be
reelected most all the armon in the south
is most cring for the war to stop but I do
not think that they will stop Gurillian
for the intend to do it as long as they can
for some has lost everything and they dont
care for nothing but I am not that way
I only want my own if I can get it and not
ones else and I only wish as that watch was
hear. How and now I can get my likeness
look but I do not now wether I shall or not
for he will take no less then six for three and
halfe dollars and he cant take one standing
out I may take a notion and have it took
it is so much money for so small a
picture they are not so large as the boys
when we go if we can stay at Chatunega I
think I could get it took right I would rather
pay 3 ½ for once then six for I do not care
of sending such a picture as mine to every
one I wish James
[ ? ] William Henrys had been
[ ? ] grass and you send me yous and Mary
Janes seperate a part and then I would of
put them all in a book to gather I will send
you the size of the paper if you will get them
took and be sure that you send me the size
of your finger for a ring and I will make you
one and I can send it in a letter to you they are
verry nise rings made out ot the Tennesee river
shells and by doing so you will able go
William Slater
Above I have
you
reiceipt in full with the
[ ? ] for
[ ? ]
+ have deliver to Miss Clark the Clouh
+ little box as you requested. I am
very to hear that you have been in
Hospital + hope you my
[ ? ]
well. We
[ ? ] have a call
for 500000 more troops + Marshall
have a large thriving out for
the men we have left, but we
are looking with hope to the south
where you + others of our brave
Michigan men are now doing you
[ ? ] to bring this war to a close
and hope that you may be able
of you
[ ? ] little ones
around you
If I can be of service
to you in any thing your life please
write me. I should like to hear
from you occasionly + will
write you if you wish
Your respects
H.M. Perrin
[On Envelope:]
Miss Ann Clark
Northville Box 181
Wayne County
Michigan
