Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/beardslee-clark-h/
Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned: Dahlgren’s Raid, Virginia
Historical Figures:
MEMORY.
Our memory is a mirror,
And we look therein
Reflects each form and gesture,
Of those with whom we’ve been,
Our memory is a bubbling spring,
Of whose waters bright, and clear,
A draught,- a gush of joy may bring,
Or cause a mournful tear.
Our memory is a pearly vase
Within which, we’ve enshrined
Each gen’rous thought, each loving word,
Of some noble, gifted mind.
Our memory is a “golden chain”
That forms a pleasing rhyme
Which smoothly flowing doth connect,
The past and present time.
Camp, 7th Mich. Cav.
Stephensberg, Va
March the 28th /64
Dear.
Friend Pheby,
I received your letters of
March the 17
th last night
and you may believe
I was glad to hear
from you and hear
that you was well
I have ben on pick
-et and just ben rel
-eved I was on that
raid to Richmond
and got in three or four
pretty close places you
can see by the papers
that our regt had
to fight a little in
one fight of half an
hour we lost our Lieut
Colonel and one Capt
and one Lieutenant and 38
men you may think
it is fun to be in
a battle but I do
not but I will stay
my time and or die
in the attempt………
I would like to be there
to go to some of them
Parties although I never
expect to have the
chance again………
“Pheby” I hardley know what
to write for we have had
so short an acquantance
so you must not be of
-fended at what I write
for I mean now harm
it is a raining verry hard
to night and has ben all day
“Charley Tanner” was here to
see me to day he is not
homesick yet so he says
he send his best respecs to
all of you and wants you to
write……if you have
never seen soldiers live then
you aught to be here and
see me to night the water
is about three inches
deep all over the bottom of
the tent and it is a running
in all of the time I dont
know but I shall be
drownded when I wake up
in the morning. will you
Please to hand this little
slip of paper to Eliza
Davis and give me an
address to it in return
Pheby I did not receive
your letters in answer to
mine of last July nor I
am not homesick yet
can also keep out of
bad companie or avoid
a good deal of it…
Please write as soon as
received and dont say you
have now news for any thing
is news to a soldier
I remain most Truly
yours
[burned away] Beardslee. Pheby
Forget me not Forget me never
till yonders sun is set Forever C.H.B.
When far away Remember Me
and think that I remember thee
From an ever true
Friend C. H. Beardslee
P.S. I just burnt
this paper
