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https://micivilwar.com/authors/vanvalkenburgh-george-w/
Regiment: 23rd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Davison County Aug 1863
Friend Geo.
I recd your excellent
letter some time since and probably you think
I do not intend to ans it but such I
assure you is not the case. I will not fill my
letter with excuses but will promise to be more
punctual in the future. My school closed
and I am now home. My
health is very good. I got a letter from Lester
today said you were at Lebanon did not say
whether you were sick or not. Father is not very
well says tell George the negroes will be more
thought of here than a copperhead. He is very
much against them, battles them every chance
he can get. And so they ought to be. Eliza is
here now. She has been to the state of N.Y.
over two years. She sends her best respects and
says if she had been a man she would have been
in the army before this time. Often speaks
of Ella. Ann had a letter from Emily. She
was well and the little one too. Told Ann to tell
me Oscar was not drafted but Tim was I rather
think they had not better draft him. If I
thought they would I’d petition to Gov. Seymour to stop
the draft. Mary is at the Drs. She is very poorly
this summer, is confined to her bed. She was
weighed last week and her weight has only
75 pounds. It seems too bad to see her wasting
away so. There is some stickness about but not
a great deal yet. Corn looks very well Oats seem to yield
well, but wheat did not do much. all
are doing well now promise a good crop if the rot does not affect them. Dr. John Bolind
got a discharge or a furlough. Some say he only
got a furlough. Jas Kitchen and the Bush
boys have gone to the copper mines or some
where else. People think that they are running to
get out of the draft. They ought not to have
a country if they cannot stand by her
when she is in distress. If a friend of mine
runs in that way from his country
he runs from me for if he is not true to
her I should not expect he would be to me.
Jay is at the hospital in Cincinnatti with
the inflammation in his eyes. You have been
in Uncle Sam’s service a year the time seems
short I hope the war will close before long
I rather think it will Father is quite encouraged
about it now. Have not drafted here yet. Mrs.
Long has been sick and her baby and fits but
they are both better now Mr. Withere was buried
last Sat I heard he died from the effects of
strong drink Dr. said the linings of his stomach
were eaten up I do not know much
about the people around for I have been away
all summer it does not seem right not to
have Em here I hope that when you get home from the
war you will buy a farm near here You’ll forget
how to hector me by that time maybe
Oh dear what a tease you used to be, throwing
notes on me by the dipper full and how
provoked I used to get but that did not
do one bit of good I have not seen or heard
from the Olmsteads since you went away
Charley Mc has been home on a visit but has
gone back now Elder Smart has got home
safe and sound He ought to draw a pension
the rest of his life He was so good to stand
by the boys in sickness and in health I
believe that is what he said at the war
meeting. There is a great many in Flint
that won’t go to hear him preach since he
got back. I hop you won’t wait as long as
I did before you write No more at present
Write all the news. Our boys do not write to
me very often There is so many girls to write
to that I do not expect they will
like to get letters from the soldiers
They are so interesting Give my respects
to all inquiring friends. Good night.
From your friend
H. A. McAllister
George W. Van
