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Regiment: 1st Michigan Light Artillery
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Feb 16th 1863
Camp near Murfreesboro Tennessee
Dear Brother
I recieved your welcome letter of the 8th
yesterday I was glad to hear that you
was well. I am well as usual I have
not had only one before this of yours
this year well John I am sorry that
you had any trouble with our folks
But it is nothing more than I expec
ted sooner or later. I tell you you
dont know one half as much about mat
ters and things as i do about those that
aught to be my best friends I haint
had a letter from Jim in 8 months
and I dont care a cuss whether he writes
in 8 month more or not (so goes
the world) I wrote you a letter about
2 weeks ago concerning that 40 acre lot
of Lewis Pecks up to North Branch
I want you to buy it for me and I
will send you money so you can pay
$25 down and give a mortgage for the
Ballance in one year As our pay day
dont come regular I could not make
any regular payments within the year
John I will send you five dollars
every pay day that you can use if you
need it we expect our pay every day
now and then I will send about $30
so you can use 5 yourself John you
mustkeep uo courage let what turn up
will never mind it I will assist you
as long as I can raise a dollar.
Well I aint got only 14 months more
to stay in service and I want to pay
for that lot besides my bounty: I think
I shall come out all right for I have
seen the elephent as large as he can
come in the shape of Rebble foes
The troops are fortyfing this place
good and strong I guess old Rosecrans
dont calculate to give up this place
very easy. We are having as warm weath
er here as you have up there in may
well John as far as the women is concer
ned in this country There is but a darnd
few except Black ones and what white
ones there is is damb nasty bitches
I would have to be hard up to get
into bed with one of them For they
look like the devils ass peak
I just noticed that that I had this
sheet wrong end up. But that is nothing
we have been here seven weeks we have moved
on the oposite side of the town since I wrote
you last. Lewis wrote that he was keepi
ng house where is do they live. Is Uncle
Peck alone now I suppose Wat Niles
sleeps with Betsy Bliss these long nights
Heman Wood had a letter from home
stating that miles had sold his commission
and was raising another company
I think by the time this rebellion is
just down that there will be a great
many war widows more than what
there is now. There will be a good chance
to do well if a fellow keeps his nose
clean and eyes open (wont they) Well you
must excuse all vulgarity and mistakes
I want Net to write some in your
next you must write soon and Believe
me your Brother & Friend
Elias B VanMarter
to John & Net VanMarter
write soon
N B Direct to E B VanMarter
of Loomises Batterry
1st Division
Army of the Cumberland
