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Regiment: 1st Michigan Light Artillery
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
March 20th 1863
Murfreesboro Tennessee
Brother & Sister
John & Net. I guess you will begin
to think that I have nothing to do but write
now a days & you are half right about it
I am well as usual & hope this will find
you enjoying yourselves & doing well
It rains like the verry devil so I thought
I would write to pass away the time.
I saw Carlton Peck & Jim Niles this
morning they are well Their regt came
here yesterday from Nashville
George Niles is in the convalescent Barracks
he has got the rheumatism so he cannot ride
a horse very well but he is around all the
while well I wish you & Net could look
down on this place & see the forts that has
been put up since we come here It would be
a sight worth seeing I tell you, this
place is fortified for 30 miles around.
Well John one of our last recruits is from North
Branch his name is Irving He used to work
for Asa Richards a great deal in the Mill
I knew him & I only saw him once when
I went up to Richards mill that winter
I was in Michigan. But I remembered his
countenance the moment I saw him
Ill be darned if I want glad to see anybody
from that county but I did not expect to
see any one from that part of the country
to join our company. Well about all I can think
of is that it is almighty lonesome here today
The ground was getting quite dry but this
rain will wet it up again I am looking for a
letter everyday from you. I got a letter from Debby &
lewis peck the otherday she said that Johnson Van-
Marter was drafted & paid $300 for a substitute
to go in his place. Well if I was in Mich. I would
go as a substitute but who ever I went for
would have to come down with the ready cash
& about $500 at that. Well john there is
some talk that we will get two months pay
shortly but I don’t know whether there is
anything in it or not. Nor don’t care.
If I get it I will send it home.
Well I expect you are having gay times
making maple suggar well I guess I will
get a horse & buggy & fetch my girl up there
some sundy & eat warm suggar how would
that do. have you got plenty of suggar for
to have a party if you have, I will come
over & fetch along miss along with me
well I am putting in too much nonsense
to look well. It continues to rain get &
I guess it will rain all night
well john I have quit using tobacco
& I feel so damb miserable that I cant
write a sensible letter nor anything else
so of course under those circumstances
you will look over it if every word aint put
in just so, I do not intend to ever
use tobacco again if I can possibly
quit it long enough to get over hankering
after it, I guess I wont write any more until
the mail comes & that will be here in a few moments
well there was no mail for me today & I will finish
this letter Col Loomis just got here this
afternoon He brought two barrels of Beer
& treated the company he is the same
old chap. A good officer if he did not
drink quite so hard. But that is the
trouble with the most of the officers in the
Union Army. we have not got only one officer
in our company but what Drink whisky
as free as an ox will water The weather
is more moderate since I commenced writing
it has stoped raining & looks like
clearing up once more. Give my specks
to all my friends my love to you both
write when convienent & all the news be sure
& both write Elias B VanMarter to John
& Nett. N B Direct as before
