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Regiment: 18th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
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
and feel myself under obligations to you for
the trouble you take upon yourself in writing to
me. You may think it strange why I should write
to you in preference to my old associates. I dont
know myself why it is, unless it is that I am
forgetting them since I have been in the Army.
A person will naturally forget their old associates
unless they have some verry strong attachments
formed, which is not, I am happy to say,
applicable in my case. Once, I had a “sweet
heart,” (oh what a feeling of emotion comes over me,)
but she “soured” on me, as the boys say, and have
give up all hopes of ever becoming attached
to another. Tis just as well, for I think there
is some pleasure in living the life of an old
“Bach.” But enough of such talk, I do not allways
mean what I say, you know, but still I like to talk
about such things.
I have just returned from dinner and will try
and finish my letter. In regards to our Regt. reintis
-ting, tis not so, as they they cannot do so until they
have been in the two years. And in regard to your
Brother enlisting in the Regulars, I guess he was only
jokeing, to hear what you would say about it.
He received a letter from you this morning, I
did not read it, but happened to be sitting by his
sid when he oppened it, and I got a glimpse of
your name and (My Dear Brother.)
Does he know that we corespond, I dont know
that I would be allowed the question, but I am
like an old woman, I want to know evrything
that is agoing on. I really wish I could
of been at your party, and joined you in
a waltz, but tis of no use to wish, you had
the pleasure and enjoyment, and I have the
consoleing thoughts that I sometime will
enjoy with you and your friends the pleasure
of the Ball Room. You ask me when this war
will close, indeed I cannot tell you, the
prospects are verry fair that it will close
during the comeing summer. I hope so.
Now I must close this letter, for it is so
pleasant out doors I want to walk out.
Wont you walk with me, down upon the
banks of the Cumberland, or to the Cemetery
I only wish I could see some one that I
knew. Some of the Boys are acquainted
with young ladies here, whose company they
seem to enjoy, but there is to much Secesh
about them for me. I am anxious to get
your likeness, but will patiently wait till
you send it. Goodbye and write soon again
From your friend
Nashville Feby 27st ’64 Clinton
Ettie, I will take no offence
whatever to any thing that
your letter contained, I am
not so easily offended.
Do my letters interset you,
you may think I talk strange
sometimes, perhaps I do
but I mean well, Good bye
I send you a kiss
Clint.
P.S. your Brother sits on the bank
next to me sewing a button on
his pants.
[On Envelope:]
Miss Mariette E Camp
Hillsdale
Michigan
