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Regiment: 18th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Head-Quarters United States forces,
Nashville, Tenn. Oct 15th 1863.
Miss Camp
I received your kind
letter 12
th 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,
but the time will come sometime when
we will all be on an equal footing again
and we will be free (issue and execute
our own orders as we choose) and not
be under obligations to no one. While in
the Army we must do just as we are
told, if it kills us.
Tis true we are strangers and never met
but perhaps can enjoy an corespondence
just as much as if we had been acquainted
and I think more, we have nothing
to quarrel about, and trust we will
not have any cause to disagree. Your
correspondent is a verry good natured fellow
and does not like quarrelsome persons.
You said you saw my old correspondent
in town if you guessed correct, now perhaps
you did, but was you not mistaken, I
guess you were a dreaming, was she
good looking or was she homely, did
she look good natured, or did she
look cross, if you will answer those
questions correctly, I can tell you if
I ever saw her. While writing about
her, a novel idea has struck me, if he
(her husband) should be drafted, I should
stand some chance of wining her love
provided he never should return, and
I would, I shall keep still about it
hopeing you will assit me in my novel
undertaking. If I had her likeness
I might form some idea how she
looked. I will not weary your patience
any longer. You have some verry
nice pets indeed, if I should tell you
about my pets you might have reason
to envy me, but they are such nice
ones I must tell you about them.
‘Tis verry seldom you see one in the
worth, while here they are verry common
verry seldom looked upon as a
curiosity, and eagerly sought after,
in London and Paris. It is an
uncommon thing to have fifteen or
twenty of them, “Rats, I mean,” running
over me when asleep. Are they not pets.
You did not speak verry encourag
-ingly about the Fair at Hillsdale.
I guess there were no good looking young
men present. Wasent that it.
It is near dark and I must close.
Please write soon, and dont forget
your unknown correspondent
(I send you a kiss.) Clinton Norris
[On Envelope:]
Miss Mariette E Camp
Hillsdale
Michigan
