Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/vanvalkenburgh-george-w/
Regiment: 23rd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of the 23rd Mich
Sunday, April 3rd, 1864
Dear Wife,
if being Sunday and
there not being any duty
to do it is quite lonesome
so I thought I would write
a few lines to let you know
that I was well and enjoying
myself first rate that is if
a man can enjoy himself
when he is far away from
thoes that he loves and has
no means of intercourse with
them only with the means
of pen in hand but that is
a great consolation for one
can unburden his mind
to a certain degree which
lets him feel comparatively happy
although he is many miles
away from those that he misses
I received that letter
you spoke about that Tim
and Jamie wrote that I was glad
to hear from them to but
[ ? ] that they did not
[ ? ] sound like they expected
of getting an answer from me
When I left home I promised to write a number
of letters which I have neglected to do
but it is not because I do not
want to write to them
but I am not going to disappoint
them and Marie for once at
any rate for I am going
to write them a letter today
and also one to Sam and
Eliza I told them that
I would write to them as soon as
I got back to the hospital
but I have not done it yet
I had one from Oats and Lib and they said that
Same and Eliza talked of going
to Ill this spring If they
do our family will be
well scattered I am going to
write them a letter today
Em I sent you a letter the
other day with ten dollars
in I want you to write as
soon as you get it and let
me know there is not need of
sending money from there
that it is not altogether safe
Em I should like to see
our little Maria and give
her one kiss and I would not
object to giving her mother
one too but that is
not to be at present you
will give Maria one for me
and I shall have to bring to a close for
I have nothing new to
write now. All we do is
lay in our old camp no more
this time for I have
two more letters to write
after this so now good by
for a few days more from
your affectionate husband
Geo. Van
