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Regiment: 18th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
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
29
th 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
our thanksgiving was a fast instead
of a feast as our box did not come
as we heard it was started a good
while before and we were all looking
for something good from home
This idea of my coming home on
New Years or Christmas was only
a camp rumor and intended as such
yet nothing would be more
agreeable to my wishes as for my
getting a furlough that is next
thing to impossible I would as
soon, almost try to get a discharge
when I was well and a sick boy
cant get one after he has been
pronounced unfit for service
now dont say I try to raise your
hopes to cast a heavier gloom over
the future but rather that I am
trying to tell the truth this time, so
that any rumor will not
[ ? ]
you I do not believe that story
about Alisons being one of the
prisoners at nashville for he says
there were only 150 or about that his
Co and another were guarding a negro
camp of about 12,00 negroes
I truly appreciate the delivate
interest you take in H M perhaps
it may be the 112
th Ill which belongs to
our brigade that he belongs to
Now my dearest delicate loving
pretty little aunt dont get
excited about Mr E Ws looking at
that letter because he did not read
all of it and has not seen any other
of your letters neither would he if
you had not objected. yet I am glad
you were so good natured in your wrath
but if you are punctual I will
not get jeallous of that Mr M
You complain of your arm
acking well it is time it was
reinforced by some strong
[ ? ]
heart and willing
[ ? ]
have first to vindicate the
supreme law of the land but
laying aside all joking I think that
the girls cannot miss the boys
as much as they do the girls for
they are surrounded by friends and
the usual comforts of life but we
have neither
the soldiers are either getting
fleshy or are sick and piniy
they either stand it first rate or
not at all perhaps you would
like to know how large our regnt
is now we could turn out about 500
for parade but we have about 600
well soldiers besids cooks and teamsters
and other details
Oh aunt when I do come
home I shall try to enjoy the
good things of my friends after
[ ? ] like the old spartans (it
is plain enough for any one)
Tell Grand Pa and Ma that
I realy enjoyed the paper it made
me think of them I made out to
get with in sight of preaching week ago
last sunday over in the 22d but I could
not hear any thing I often think of them
and live over many pleasant times in
memory
To my much loved Aunt
Good bye till next letter
H D Plank
