Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/durand-david-j/
Regiment: 20th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Ambrose E. Burnside
Camp 20th Mich. Near Strawbury Plains Tenn.
Monday Jany. l8th 1863
Dear Brother John
I Recd two long letters from you night before last. One
was written Dec.l3..and the other Dec 30
th..
I tell you I was glad enough to hear from you. The mail
is great while going and coming too. But I guess it all
gets thgouth Safe.. I was glad to hear that Harlen had
got their.
He will tell you all the news of the fight. And all
about us better than we can write it. I think that the
papers were slightly mistaken when they said that we were
in Nicholasville, Ky. Although we Expected to have been
their by this time, but now we hear that Genl. Burnsides
has taken command down here again And if that is so I
don’t think we shall get a chance to go over the mountains
very soon. You know old Burney thinks a great deal of his
old Ninth Corps. And wherever he goes (Their go we also)
(And Satan came also). When I last wrote you we were a
Blains X Roads..
Day before yesterday we broke camp there..And marched to
this place we started from there at 10 A.M. And arrived
here at 2 P.M. 8 miles. And the mud was very bad, This army
if pretty hard up for clothing. Some of the men have to j
make mockersens out of the raw hides taken, from the beef
It seems rather hard to be obliged to do so.. But they
take it all in good part and do not complain. Thier has a
small lot of clothing come and lots more coming.. So we
shall have plenty before long. As far as I am concerned..
I have got enough of Every-thing.. Except Socks.. And if
the girls have not sent me some by Harlen or Lieut Hammond.
You may please send me some by mail. Also a light pair of
Buck Skin Gloves.. If you do not get this letter before
the winter is gone you need not send the gloves..for I shal
not need them. I write you in my last that we could all
re-enlist But it is all a hoax. We cannot untill we have
been out two years. But we will wait and seewhere the re-
bellion is by that time….
I kinder think it will be pretty well wound up..Don’t you?
The cars run through this place. it is nothing else. the
cars stop here to leave supplies for the army.. And it is a
pretty nice place to Encamp I don’t know how long we shall
stay..here we had orders to be ready to march this morning
at 7o’clock but it has rained every since that time..So I
supposed they have postponed marching for the present.. We
are about 3/4 of a mile from water And we heard that we were
only going to change camp so as to get nearer water. But we
don’t know where we are going untill we get their.. Frank
Phillips has gone home on a furlough.. I do not know how
long it is.
But you may wee him before you get this and then he will
tell you I wrote to him the other day. He will have a fine
time I wish I was with him.. But time goes very fast. And
our time will soon be out. And then we will all go into the
Veteran Corps and get a furlough for 30 days.. I think
Charley & Em…must have felt pretty Cheap when Aaron and
Mary asked them over to his party. Well John I guess I have
told you all the news..The boys are all well. Andrew Briggs
and myself tent together and do and live as we please.. Love
to all. We are in the first Brigade again..So you may direct
1st Brigad..lst Division. D.J.Durand
I had heard of Anna’s Marriage before I rec’d your letter..
Best respects to Dick & Sate And all of the rest of the
folks.
Your Brother
David J. Durand
