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Regiment: 23rd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
You will think I made up in quanity
what is lacking in quality.
H.N.M.
Davison Center April 25, 1864
Dear Friend,
Yours come to hand
today and I will set an example to all good
soldiers by answering immediately. I wrote
you a letter about the time you where
at Glascow and never recd a reply. I
presume you never got it. I was thinking
strongly of writing again when yours came to
hand. I am glad to hear of your good health
which is a great blessing to a soldier
as well as to anyone else. I am well and but
with the exceptions of a very bad cough.
Our family are well. I was at the Dr. yesterday.
Dr. said he must answer your letter. I have
been out to Clinton Co. where Sarah lives. She
has a boy two months old. I have been
home two weeks. The weather is very
pleasant it has rained most of the time for
about five weeks and you can imagine the
state of the roads. I never knew them to be
bad as they now are. If we had a boat or
raft I think we might get to the city
very comfortably but not a
[ ? ]. The spring
is very full and wheat does not look very promising
but water killed. Grass begins to look
quite green, about time isn’t it? I have not
heard a word from Em in a long time
I heard when I was at Flint that her
mother was dead, perhaps it was a mistake I do not see why she does not write
I wrote her last I do not know where to commence to tell you the news. I think
I will begin at the tavern. Mrs. Wicker has
got back in her hotel. A man by the name
of Elwell rented it last year. A regular
copperhead. Father and he had it – which and
or two. he says you must
come back and help fight them. He is
getting old and infirm but he does
what he can. Benjamin Knight has sold
his farm to a Dutch man by the name
of Randles or something like it. Mr. Long
and family are well. Hannah works at
Charles Pettis’ Charles at S. Jordans.
Dr. is justice of peace I expect we
will all get married now. he has him a hired
man by the name of McTaggard for a cost of $20 per month. They have a hired girl. Ann talks
of going away this summer on a vessel
H. Gidley brought. The Olmstead place she had
moved there (Mrs. Gidley). A man by the name
of McTaggart bought the Havens place he is
cousin to Allan McTaggart. I believe
Peter Crocker lives there yet. I hardly ever
see them. Ezra Wolcott drives out at
Wills place. Mr. Joe Hill intends building
this summer. Mr. does the carpenter
work. Mr. Cartwright is clerk of Supervisor again
Mrs. Miller, she that lives on the
Irish road is very sick. She sent for
the Catholic Priest to come and pardon
her sins. She is all right now. I suppose
booked for the good place. No danger of her
going to the bad place now. Mr. Townsend
is Tom Clerk. “They say” he has been electionen
for it all winter. Bush boys are skedadling
around as usual. “reclin” then old sachels
must be about worn out traveling
about as much as they do. Mrs. Clapsaddle fell
down last winter and broke her ankle
Em Clapsaddle (the little girl) took around her
mother to lift her up. I think she did
not make much headway lifting her mother
It seemed so funny to think of that little girls
trying to lift her mother. Mr. C came in soon
and raised her. She has a quite hard time
with it. I heard that George Daly and
Ed Daly were about starting for the copper
mines and from there to the gold diggins
I do not know how true it is I hope that
the war will close with this summers
campaigns as you seem to think it will. I
think it is about time the rebs were whipped
Father thinks that you will be kept there in that part
of the war. I am sorry those boys were so unfortunate
as to be taken by the rebs. They do not seem
to have the feelings of human beings.
Give my love to
[ ? ] I had a letter from him today
You say that if I think your letter worth ans
I can do so and I should be glad to get
another. You need not be alarmed about having
friends here. Your friends and true ones too
who are always glad to hear from you.
Carlo is alive yet. Father sends his respects
wants you to get Jeffs scalp and bring home
as a trophy. I suppose I should have to close
for want of space. You cannot complain
about my not ans your letter. I just recd
it this afternoon. No more. Write soon
and often too.
H. A. McAllister
Respects to all
Geo. Van
