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https://micivilwar.com/authors/winchell-edward-a/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Nashville, Tenn.
Aug. 14th 1864
Dear Mother
I received your kind
letter this morning and was very
sorry to hear that your health was
not much improved although I did
not expect to hear that you was
much better for it is impossible for
ones health to improve much when
they have to work as you do. I was
sorry to hear that you had not been
able to visit Uncle Tom as yet but hope
you will go for I think it will
do you good. I was glad to hear that
the girls enjoyed them selves but it
is no more than I expected they would
do for if they could not enjoy them
selves in that pleasant place I dont
know where they would go to do so
I am glad that Mary received my letter
and I hope that she will answer it
I have written twice to her and have
Received no answer but I will write
again to day for I promised her that<
I would write every week and I will
keep my promise whether I receive
answers or not. You want me to you what my
work is. Well I am working as a
common laborer when I commenced
I did not know but what I would have
to dig but I got a little better place
and am now working in a lumber
yard loading and unloading lumber
and piling it up it is very easy
work but I am not satisfied the
men I have to associate with are the
porest class of Irish and the board
we get is worse than I ever had
to put up with in the army
I am agoing to remain in my
present situation the remainder of
this month and then leave if I
can not get anything better to
do in this city I will come back
north. There are a great many
arriving here every day thinking
to escape the draft but I guess
if any of them are drafted they
will hear of it if they are down
here. The reason that I do not like
my place is that the men are most
all Irish even to the overseer and
if you disobey one of the latter you are
fined five dollars and most likely
put in jail for 48 hours.
Most of the men have had to take
an oath to obey their superiors
and to take up arms if they
are needed and I am expecting
every day when they will want
our squad to take it but I will
not do it. I will not live
on the stuff we are geting and
if I have to pay my own
board I think I can make
as much at home as I can
here and I will try it if I dont
get some thing better to do after
this month. If I should come
back all that I would loose by
comeing down here would be one
month time for I will Have as
much after I get back as I started
with You needent tell any one that
I think of returning for I dont know
that I will. If you see Edgar ask
him if a green hand stands any chance
of getting on the road breaking for
I think I will go at that
business if one can call it
such I hope this will find you
enjoying as good health as it leaves
me. Give my love to all of the folk
and keep a good share for your self
From your affectionate son Ed A. W.
[On Envelope:]
Mrs. G. Winchell
Detroit
Box 484
Mich
