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Regiment: 23rd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Ambrose E. Burnside, Julius White
London Tenn October 11th 1863
Camp of the 23rd Regt Mich Vol Inft
Dear brother William
Yours bearing date of sept 13th & 14th was received by me yesterday. I
Also received four more, one from cousin Sarah O. Claggett of Wis, one from cousin Huldah Sherman of Ohio, one from Susan Edic of Ohio and one from my mother of Ind. They found me well as usual and brought me good news except the sudden death of sister Sarahs youngest child, which I had heard of before. William you may be sure there is nothing so encouraging to me as to receive good news from my friends and relatives at home no matter if I do see hardships, to know that my friends are enjoying the comforts of life. Cheers me up and I am willing to go through new difficenties what ever of envoy my bosom used to harbor at the prosperity of friends. I believe I can say that I am free from it now. But woe to my enemies. I am willing to fight them while favored with life and strenght. William there may be some doubts in your mind as to my sincurity when I tell you as much as we have strove against each other by way of argument on politics. I hold no grudge against you for things that were said in support of your political opinion while in our heated debates. The more I see of the world, the more ready am I to look over seeming faults in others as I wrote you a few lines and sent in an envelope directed to miss Emily Shults. I will not make this a long letter in the postscript of your letter. You spoke of Mr. Demins asking you how you would like to be in the army and have your girl running about with other fellows. Judgeing from the letters which I have received from the one you spoke of, I had reason to expect very different things. But perhaps the fault is
Mine, as I had never made any firm engagement and it is for want of
Confidence in me perhaps more than any thing else makes her perform thus. I thank you for the information. But I have seen most to many years to let any such thing trouble me or. Draw me from the path of duty or the service I owe my country. It is an old saying that all is well that ends well. Therefore we will trust the future disapointments often make the man they will tend to call out his energies, which might lie smothered for years. William you shall meet such treatment with the dignity of a man and true soldier and I have very strong desires to return home once more with not a single star op bar erased from the old banner. Hoping this may find you well. I will bid you good bye. This from your brother and well wishes.
H. G. Sherman
P. S. William when you receive this letter please sit down and write
Me an answer imediately. Please give my best respects to Mr. Kings
Folks and all enquiring friends. I must tell you what happened, our
Division about two ago we crossed the river in pontoons and made a
March of about 12 miles towards Chattanooga and was expecting to stay all night and go forward in the morning. But about 8 oclock as tired as the men were, we was ordered by General Burnside to stay at London until further orders. But it appears that general white who is in command of our division, had antisipated orders of a different character and thought he would get a good start. But when a currier came up just as we had got in camp with a dispatch from General Burnside that we must hold London. General White had to move back immediately. So you see we camped two nights on one spot after making a tedious march of 24 miles. You may be sure that there was some murmuring among the boys, it looked so much like a retreat. I for one would rather have fought a hard battle. But it often becomes necessary to make just such movements with soldiers and good will, obey without a murmur. But I will close this time, it has been very cold way down here in Tenn this fall, as cold as I used to see it in Michigan.
But good bye this time.
H. G. Sherman
