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https://micivilwar.com/authors/vanmarter-elias-b/
Regiment: 1st Michigan Light Artillery
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Feb 25th 1863
Camp near Murfreesboro
Tennessee
Dear Brother & Sister
I recd your letter of the 14th
on the 22nd It found me well as usual
I got a letter from Harvey the same time
It is pretty hard to have the scarlet fever
get into such a family of little children
I will tell you the reason that I did not
answer your letter sooner you see we
have signed the pay roll 3 or 4 days ago
and expected our pay every day so
thought I would not write until we
got our Pay but I will write today
and when we get paid I will send
you $25 by express when you get it
you can send me a reciept for the
same I dont want any interest
I make up my mind that I would
give Lewis 120 dollars for that lot
but I wont give one cent more now
I will wait until I get back perhaps
I can do better I will send my money
to you hereafter & you may have all the
int you can make off from it until
I get back if you will keep it safe
for me
well hans it is darnd nice weather
here in dixy. But I dont believe we will
stay here long Everything indicates a
forward movement well I will finish
this letter I just eat my dinner there
is a thunder shower coming up
yes the artillery of the Heavens has
opened on us with a roar but the shot
happens to be water see I guess it
wont do much harm although they
are good marks men Harvey said that
it was pretty hard times for money
up there He wanted me to send 10 dollars
but I told him that I had agreed to
send it another way. I tell you john
I would send him some But I know
he could not pay it back when I wanted
it (dont you say any thing to them about
what I wrote to you) Dont you remember
what I told you wehn you first come
back east. But let them work it will
come out all right Jim G VanMarter
has not written me a letter since
last summer I dont care a darnd
whether he ever writes to me again
or not. John I will pay the express
fees on that so it wont cost you any
thing to get it
well John you must keep up good courage
& dont let thing trouble you too much.
I know just how it is with you I used
to feel as though I had not a friend in
Gods universe & I being rather young it
come darnd near being the ruin of me I
could not stand grieg at that time as I
could now but it is all past and gone
so let it go But John by God dont
let any of them run over you & dont you
ask any odds of them neither if you want
anything that I can help you to write &
let me know: & you shall have it
I tell you it Ryles my blood to this day
when i think of the past: I am quiting the
use of tobaco If I can quit I will for I
dont like to pay at the rate of 3 dollars per
lb. for the develish weed. Well I must close
pretty soon you must write all the news
& write often. From your brother & Friend
Elias B VanMarter
to John & Net VanMarter
Direct to E B V M
of Loomises Batterry
1st Division
Army of the Cumberland
Nashville
Tennessee
We may get our pay tomorow or next day If we
do I will send that money right along
I will pay the express fees here to Lapeer
you may expect it soon
