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Regiment: 17th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Convalescent Camp
Near Hickmain Bridge, Ky.
Sept. 3d 1863
Dear Friend
Your many kind
+ interesting
[ ? ] was handed
me by your Cousin some days
since, but until the present
have been unable to answer
Was very much pleased to
hear from you.
How often the thought has
occurred to
the me of the
good old times we used to
have at your house. I have
also thought / though selfish
it may be / if
[ ? ] were any
missing from those quiet
gatherings now
[ ? ]
The same happy condition
of things seems to surround
you as of old – + I am
pleased to learn that you
all injoy them
[ ? ] would like
to make one of you
[ ? ]
sometime. Now such a trip
as you had a short time since
to the Iron Works of which you
mention – I could injoy very
much, don’t you think and
perhaps I might for the
acquaintance of some fair one;
but hold – am I not too fast;
I must ask myself- have I
not passed the
[ ? ] , and
entered into that state whom
most all abhor an
old Batch
but then I ought not to
criminate myself + I also
flatter myself that my chance
is yet good – under the
[ ? ]
impression I remain contented.
I should [ ? ] liked very much
to have been In the vicinity of
when you all gathered
under that waggan for shelter
you must have produced quite
a apseotical I won’t say what
kind just now.
The next time you go out –
on an excursion of the kind
you should take along a
bugle
to call together the “stragglers”. we
punish all such here. + I don’t
see why a similar means
might not be adopted into
your company – it would I think
obviate much trouble in furture
but I suppose you will not now
[ ? ] military rule in those case yet
Ouyr regt left here some
days since, for Crab Orchard
a distance of 35 miles from this
point. leaving behind all the
sick, lame + blind. there being
over a thousand of that sort
in the whole division, a camp
convalescent has been formed
temporarily – There are some 80
of our regt here – 9 in Hospital.
Those are all under my charge
the reason of my being left
here – More are very sick and
am injoying myself very well
yet am anxious to be with
the regt again.
Holmes was well when he
left – have heard nothing of his
regt since they have been gone.
I did not injoy the trip up the
Miss. – was sick a few days
previous to our leaving there + it
lasted until we arrived at C
[ ? ]
when I felt better + since then
have fully regained my former
health. The ride on the cars from
C
[ ? ] To Cincinnati was rough in
the extreme – + were it not for
the
[ ? ] + in most instances
beautiful scenery along the route
together with the smiling faces
greeting us at every station +
at every village crossing. it
would have been very dull +
monotonous – but
[ ? ] voices
greeted our ears at every point
+ welcomed us on – strange it
is
but yet each slight tokens
of their appreciation seems to
have the effects to stimulate
the feelings of the soldiers to an
[ ? ] degree – + he forgets –
his careworn appearance + hard
lot. One instance I will mention
here – At the little town of Washington
Ind – we stopped about an hour
to await a passing train – in the
meantime quite a delegation
of the fair ones came to the cars
to
see us. We had quite a time
for a few minutes – I was almost
inclined to stop over until the
next day – They were very friendly
+ conversive – + proved very interesting
companions for the time being
+ wished us god speed when
we started on our way, such little
demonstrations make the soldiers
hearts glad –
I think now I shall see you
all some time this fall – I shall
obtain a furlough if possible
about the latter part of October
if not sooner – I
trust I
shall
find you all well – but in the
meantime I would like to hear
from you often – I shall endeavor
to entertain you in my way the
best I know how –
write often
Remember me to all the
girls – love to C. M. M., + S – also
your Father + Mother
Say to D.H. I have replied to his letter
Your friend
H.T. Cliff
