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Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Joseph E. Johnston
Snyders Bluffs 28 June 1863
Dear Cousin Emma
It has been some time since I wrote to you and not knowing whether the folks at
home are dead or alive. I thought you might be able to let me know. I have not
received a word from home since I received that box from your father. I think it is
too bad.
Well, Emma, I suppose now we are down in what is called the Sunny South; but for
my part I can’t see any thing so exciting about it as I have heard it was. We have
plenty of sun and it is very warm at that but I guess I can manage to live through it.
At any rate, I shall try and be as careful of my health as possible.
We have lots to eat and can get green corn, ripe peaches, plums, and apples by going
outside of our lines. I don’t go very often because it is so hot and I am so lazy. I hate
to walk so far.
We have orders to be ready to march at a moments notice with five days rations and
one blanket and one hundred rounds of cartridges. I suppose our generals expect an
attack from Johnson in which case we would have to go
out about 4 miles to our first line of rifle pits.
Well I have just finished a first rate dinner which consisted of pan cakes with a little
soda in them. I was on picket yesterday and spent most of my time at a house where
there was a young lady living. We got to talking about the prices of things and just
for the fun of it I will give you a few of them.
For a common calico dress such as could be had at six cents per yard when I came
away, she gave twenty five dollars ($25); for a light pair of shoes she gave 15 dollars
and done all of the sewing herself; for a pair of ladies hose she gave 6 dollars; coffee
6 dollars per pound, sugar one per pound, and all other things in proportion. I
asked her how they got money enough to pay such prices and she said they used to
buy flour at 70 cents per pound and bake them into biscuits and sell them to the
rebel soldiers two dollars per dozen, two dollars a piece for crackers and the same
for eggs per dozen. When we got through with her list of prices she pulled a pipe out
of her pocket and went to smoking and I thought it time for me to leave. Most of the
women down here make a practice of smoking.
Give my love to all the folks. Good bye from
Cousin Ed Winchell
[On Envelope:]
Mrs. Frank J. Phelps
Care of F. J. Phelps
Detroit
Advertiser and Tribune
Mich
Offiice
