Photograph of R. S. Smith, Co. A, 18th Michigan Infantry
Rigden, George W. – May 16, 1865
Camp Granger Huntsville Ala May 16nd 1865 Respected Friend Almeda So little time has elapsed Since I received your kind letter I Should of ansered it before but we were out on Raid 7 days Marching through Swamps over Mountans and Valies We had a hard time
Jewell, Charles A., Jr. – August 2, 1864
Recd answd Aug 11th 1864 Near Atlanta Ga Decatur Ala. Aug. 2d 1864. Lieut. F. B. James: Sir: With deep sorrow I received your kind letter of the 22d inst. Accept my heartfelt thanks, for the just tribute you paid my brother’s memory, as a soldier and companion. Faults, were his perhaps many of them but who of us will throw the first stone? we are all full of faults.
Norris, Clinton F. – April 18, 1864
Nashville Tenn April 18th 64 Friend Ettie I guess you will begin to think by this time that I have ceased “to be” but if you do, you will change your mind on receiving this, I have neglected to answer your letter which contained your likeness, I thank you verry kindly for such a pretty likeness and have often looked at it with the wish that I could see the original
Norris, Clinton F. – March 6, 1864
Friend Ettie Here goes for another letter, I dont know what I shall write about, perhaps anything and evrything that comes in my mind, and if I do, I shall write some strange things, and you can make a note of it in your memorandum, as strange thoughts from a strange man, and by the way I must not be to egotistical, as I may expose some of my bad qualities to you, and then there would be a chance for feelings of indifference and that you know I do not wish, but I will try and keep within bounds of etiquette
Norris, Clinton F. – February 27, 1864
Friend Ettie Your long looked for letter come at last. I had really began to think you had forgotten me, and dident care to correspond with me anymore, but this morning disclosed the fact that I was mistaken. If you only could immagine, with what anxiety we soldiers look for letters, you would, I think, more fully appreciate their worth. I do not intend to insinuate that you do not take an interest in writing to the Soldiers, for I think you do, and I think you are verry kind to favour me with your letters
Ramsdell, Charles H. – December 20, 1863
Dec. 20th, 1863 Dear Father, I am all right as usual except a pair of boots my old ones are beginning to cave and would like another pair just like them for they have lasted first rate.
Plank, Harrison D. – December 3, 1863
Mich Wednesday Dec 3 Camp Ella Bishop Lexington Ky Libbie I am in the very best of spirits I have two other letters 1 from Cay Allison Dated 29th Nov he was at Nashville but did not say that he had bolted with the rest he says his health is very good I shall try not to loose track of him There is not a great amount of news to write
Norris, Clinton F. – November 24, 1863
Nashville Tenn, Nov 24th /63 Friend Ettie I received your kind letter the 2nd inst, and as usual, was much pleased with the contents. I think you verry kind indeed to engage a small portion of your hurried moments in writing to me, and will not intrude upon your generous self by asking you to write any oftener than you can conveniently. I looked for your letter two or three days before it came, you see I know about the time to look fo rone, and if it does not come I begin to think there is something wrong with the “Mail arraingement.”
Norris, Clinton F. – October 15, 1863
Head-Quarters United States forces, Nashville, Tenn. Oct 15th 1863. Miss Camp I received your kind letter 12th inst, and with the greatest of pleasure will proceed to answer it. I am well and enjoying the privileges of a Soldier to the best advantage, trying to make myself as comfortable and happy as I can. You are aware I suppose that a soldier cannot do just as he would wish to verry often, therefore makes it verry unpleasant for one sometimes
Seeley, Frederick D. – October 13, 1863
October 13th 1863 Head Quarters Nashville Tennessee Army of the conberlan 2 Division 3 Brigade Dear father It is with great pleasure that i set down to rite you a few lines we are all well and in good spirites and [ ? ] these few lines will find you at the same
Norris, Clinton F. – September 28, 1863
Nashville Tenn Sept 28” ’63 Friend Mariette This morning finds me well and also feeling good over the letter I received from you this morning. ‘Tis a beautiful morning and how I wish I were in Hillsdale. I think I could enjoy myself if I were only there. But I must not say to much about it for fear you will think that I am really homesick. I am not homesick and have not been, but at times I allmost immagine myself with my friends and assotiates
Norton, Sylvester R. – April 2, 1863
KY Stanford Apr 2 1863 Dear Hattie I last wrote you from Lancaster Since that time we all have been on the go about all the time when we got back to this place I heard Such big yarns that it almost Scared me & having a few minutes leisure time thought 1 write to you that you might know I am Still alive for I presume you have heard Some of the Stories of Battles fought within the last ten days & no doubt feel anxious to hear from me as I am from you
Norton, Sylvester R. – March 29, 1863
Lancaster KY Sunday Mar 29/63 Dear Hattie you will See by this that I am yet alive & I can add well but it is a wonder I am well for we have done Some tall work in the way of Marches at all hours of the Day & Night for the past week I wrote you a letter last Sunday and one Wednesday giving you Same accounts of our encounter with the Rebs & promising to give a more detailed account of it
Norton, Sylvester R. – March 8, 1863
Hospital No 1 Lexington Mar 8/63 Dear Hattie I recd yours of 22 & 27 last Friday they probaly went to the Regiment at Danville & then back to me it does not Seam like very late news when it from 8 to 12 days to get here where they ought to come in 2 or 3 I have not yet got an answer to the one I wrote 25 & 26
Norton, Sylvester R. – March 1, 1863
Lexington Hospital No 1 March 1 1863 Dear Hattie [ ? ] I am yet not dead or taken by the Rebbels but still laying arround the Hospital I recd a letter from you yesterday dated the 18 I should have had it nearly a week ago bud did not get it I expected to have one about the middle of the week and got disapointed these too perhaps you did not write one on Sunday or it might have gone to the Regiment which it would do if there was no one at the PO (from our Reg) to claim the Reg mail
Norton, Sylvester R. – February 23, 1863
Lexington Feb 23/63 Dear Hattie I wrote you a letter this morn but being down town this after noon find that our mail all goes to Louisville now unless Someone is at the PO to claim it for the Reg You may send mine to Hospital No 1 Lexington Ky until I write to the contrary
Camp, John W. – January 31, 1863
Camp Ella Bishop Saturday Jan 31 /63 Dear Parents and Sisters, I received a letter from you some time ago and was very glad to hear from home once more. I should have answered your letter before but I have been sick and did not feel like writing. I am far from well at the present time.
Norton, Sylvester R. – January 4, 1863
Camp Ella Bishop Lexington Jan. 4, 1862 Dear Hattie once more I sit down to have a few minutes chat with you but the chat is all on my side now for you are not near enough to do the answering now but it is a great consolation to me to know it will come bye and bye I do not know what I should do if it wer not for the privilege of writing
Seeley, Frederick D. – November 22, 1862
Nov. the 22 1862 Camp Elabishop Lexington, Ky. Dear sister i recived your leter to day and was very glad to hear that you are all well and Mr Cutters says that our things are not agrate wages [ ? ] we are looking for them all the time now