Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/baxter-edwin/
Regiment: 1st Michigan Engineers
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
G Rapids Mich June 12th 1864
Dear Cousin Mary
Gardner
says you offer to answer my last
letter after I have written it
This is very kind in you and
I cannot complain that it is not
fair. I have many times
thought of writing to you and also
to Aunt Harriet – your mother – but
I have not known the P. O. address of
either of you lately and besides
I have perhaps been rather negligint of
writing. I have often thought of
you and Celia, but more especially of
your mother, since I heard of your
father’s death. It must have been
terrible news to you all. It was
very unexpected indeed to me When
I last saw him at Bridgeport he
was confident that he would very
soon get his discharge, though he
charged me not to tell Aunt Harriet
so for fear there might be some
failure. I had been confidently
looking for the news of his dis-
charge up to the time I heard of
his death. Thus it is We never
know when our time will come,
and few indeed there are who will
not mourn very near and dear
friends lost in this terrible struggle
Yet we have no choise. We must
peril our lives or have no
country, no houses. Terrible is the
chastening but we or those who
survive will doubtless one day
see and acknowledge an all mercifeul
power even in our terrible affliction.
Give you mother my warmest
sympathies and tell her I think
of her often and will write to her if
she wishes and will tell me where
to direct. Also the same to Celia
I understand your friend Kate Stow-
ell’s health is improving. I have
not seen her.
Zada is teaching school near
home. Sabrina is at home. She has
been here several days but went home
on hearing that mother had the ague.
Her health is about as usual. Her
left knee is stiff and does not bend
at all. Dolly and Vienna are at home
Uncle Joseph has moved into that
brick house you lived in opposite
Uncle Leonards. I think he has
bought it. Milo is still at
Nashville in the Veteran Reserve Corps
We have never heard more of Ira’s
fate.
My health is pretty good now I
have been painting John’s house and
am not permanently engaged at any-
thing now. I left the Eagle office
a month ago. Carrie is pretty
tired and says she cannot write now
Her hired girl left her just before
houses cleaning time on
account of being sick and has not yet
come back which has made pretty hard
times for Carrie and her mother, neither
of them being very tough. She sends
her regards to you and all the
friends.
Respectfully
Kindly
Edwin Baxter
Mrs Mary J Clark
Isn’t Gardner lucky with
his ill luck. Fortunate in his
misfortunes. I’ll bet you
think so.
EB
