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Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: William T. Sherman
Paris Mich
Sunday morning July 12th 1863
Bud dear Brother
Good gracious – it
is perfectly glorifying – to think
of commencing a letter to you once more.
I hope we shall never hear of your
being sick again – for we have been
frightened almost to death – and have
lived almost a year in the last two
weeks – there are more than twenty
ways by which we will hear from
you in the course of a week –
To give you a full account – in
the first place, Mrs. Gray son
Mrs. Powelson the next day after she
arrived at Grand Rapids – she sent us
a note as soon as possible – as soon
as we got it we went down
Mother
[ ? ] + myself to see Mrs.
she said you had the typhoid – and
was pretty sick – and did not want
her to tell us anything about it
she gave us a full account of she
leaving of Fairfax – well such anxiety
I never want to throw again – we wanted
to telegraph in Sherman’s name – he was
out in Paris – the next day we went
down again – and Sherman telegraphed
to Dr Bliss – the dispatch was sent
out Wednesday about noon – the answer
was received Thursday noon – the
words were – “Sick with typhoid
fever – is doing well – Mother staied
in town all night – came home the –
day the message was rec We felt a
great deal better after hearring that
Oh Bud what an awful long day that
was – Sherman has been so good – he
has taken every measure in his power – to
get word from you – he has written
to Rev. Mr. Greely. Geo. W. Kellogg has
been written to – Col. Kellogg has
been home – left last week for
Washington – he promised Sherman
he would go and see you immediately
Mother went to see him to – he told
her if there was a regaiment going through
now he would give her a pass
Mother was all ready to go where you
are – and would have gone – if the –
word had come for her to go –
Sherman also went to see Douglass the
quarter master. he started for Washington
last week and promised he would go and
see you – said he knew you well – but
did not know you were relation to the Sheriff
Mother called to Mr. Greely’s the
other day W see when they had heard
from him – Mrs. Greely said
she has heard of Steward Shafer – as
one who did his duty nobly – and when
she went to tell Nella who was there –
she says Nella come and see
Steward Shafer’s Mother Bud
bully for you
you have got lots of friends – all over
how Mrs. Powelson did praise you
she said she could not think any more
of her own son than she did of you –
She said you would do for them all
when nobody else would – she says it
is impossible for a friend to get her inside
of a hospital and be allowed the privilege
of taking care of you if you were sick –
She said she would have glady stayed
if she could – we stayed with her a
long
time and had a long talk –
Well it isn’t hardly time yet to get
answers from any of these Shermans sent
word by – so we had not heard a word
since the dispatch – till last night – we
were so anxious to hear – we thought there
ought to be something there yesterday –
so lastly – I rec the letter from Emma
P Southwick – we thought it very strange
if you were able why you did not have
some word sent we have written you two
letters directed to Ward H. in care of Dr. Bliss
I hope you will have her write again
if they will not let you write – for
we are anxious to hear again
Emma Southwick (is she a nurse) did
not state that you had a fever – said
you were getting along – you will
she caused happiness by writing that letter
for that soldier
Again Mother says I must tell you
if you go back to your old place –
dont work so hard Making yourself
sick will not be doing your duty =
don’t be too kind to others – at the expense of your own health
as I want to tell you the news please adjourn
