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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Arlington Dec the 8th 1861
Dear Children
I embrace the present opportunity to
address a few lines to you this evening finds
us all well and I hope that these few lines
will find you enjoying the same blessing
of God we have had qute a fall of snow
it commenced snowing the (23) of Nov and
the snow fell. I pose about 13 inches. and
it staid about 9 days and the ground is now
bare and it is warm as september
I rasied (600) bushels of corn this season and
am fatting 6 hoggs have killed a beef and
i killed two hoggs sometime ago by corn
pork nor beef will not bring anything corn
is only worth 15 cts per bushel pork c50
cts per hundred we have sowed (12) acres of wheat
(11) acres for myself and one acre for Edwin
I have seen old Beaver and he says that he
can not pay one Dollar now but you shall
have the first Dollar of money that he does get
but the Lord only knows whe that will be
our taxes are so high here and produce
so low that I could not hire (15) Dollars to
save the world from caos my taxes are (27)
Dollars so that you see that it nip and tuck
with us here now Mitchel if it was in my power
to raise some money for you I would do it
with all pleasure but I could not without
motgageing my farm and that I would not
like to do I have had to pay ten percent
interes and pay eight Dollars besides to get
a not of (100) Dollars extended another year
give my respets to Ote to Daniel and Mary
Cain and all that enquire oh tell cain that
Ed Lewis has been down to St Paul this fall
hunting and had killed (11) Deer who I heard
from him last
that is all I think of now
Yours D. D. Briggs
Affectionate Children
(Shal I say this leaves us all well I
hope those few lines will find you enjoying the same) as the
rest have said for you see I am the last I must bring up
the rear. I feel as the must say something (but as
[ ? ] sais
) dont hardly know what to write, we had most maid up our
minds that you had given up writing but was glad to
hear & hear that you were getting well & enjoying your selves
so well, you wished to know if Uncle Melvin had his senses
he did & told them he should die we all hird that he was getting
better until the news came he was dead, he had a deat of
200 Dollars hierd money which she has to pay in the spring
she had 50 bushel of wheat that she thought she would spair
someone broak the lock & stole every bushel about the
same time the dogs killed 11 of hir sheep, she maid a
sail & sold of the rest of hir property that she could spair
sold them verry well, has rented the farm to Mr Quick,
have not hird a word from Sue since you let. Suppose you
hird that Uncle Noble & the rest of our Arlington boys
have gone to St Louis Noble sent home 4 Photographs likeness
1 for Araline 1 for Aunt Lybria Calista & myself taken with his
uniform on, Trudy said she was going to write you last Sunday
if so suppose she told you Ellen has a bean a Mr Woodman
from Paw Paw a widower cant tell what it will amount to but
you will know beffore spring but dont you write or say a word
that I mentioned it to you, say to Mary I am going to
write hir next, O! Mitchel liked to forgot to say Frank Cross
is married to Mr Jinnings. I dont think of eny more marriges
remember me to Ike tell him be sure & leav the girls alone
& that Mrs Fry has got hir one eyed Lan home, tell him (I
wont be sure but I guess it would be to late to send that
book now) Caroline has drawn 20 Dollars from the town & John
has sent hir some money which makes hir quite comfortable
Dont think of eny more but dont put off writing as long
again we should have answered yours before but waited
for Duane to see old Leaver, Monday afternoon Now Jane
I have been washing hard all day (how is it with you) Duane told
one last knight not to mail this & he would see Philip
EcKlor & try to get some money of him for you but Duane
had to go on the road all day & dont know iff he can see
him today I thought I would write a few words while I
thought of it, You may think by Edwins saing he had got
15 bushels that he has got 15 since you were hear but he
ment in all there is, he has got since you left 4 or 5 bushels
Now while I think did Cain find his stockings, for I have never
seen eny thing of them, I have just sold my peaches had 40 pounds
at 10 ct pound got me the pertiest hood you ever saw & dress,
Spencer & Dilbert sent there father home 30 dollars which
dont come amiss Mitchel I must now close I have a chance to
send to the office it was so late when Duane got home that
he could not go & see Ecklor but sais tel Michel he will
see him but dont know as it will do eny good, Edd said
that Mr Wilson wanted to sell him some pits today
Now dont neglect to write often, remember me to Cain
& tell him should have come a hunting this fall for they
have caught a large number of Deer Now Good Evening
SS. B to
Mitchel & Jane
