Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/burge-caroden-s/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Mich. Va.
Jan. 9th/62.
Dear Mother:
I rec’d your
letter in due time.
I have rec’d a letter
from you every week
for a number of weeks
with the exception of
of two weeks. You
have been more
punctual that I have
been. But you must
know that sometimes
I am on picket or
other duty which
makes it impossible
for me to write, but
as you have no such
duty I expect one
from you every week.
After this I mean to
write to you every
Thursday so as to send
the letter Friday morn.
& you will get it by
the Friday’s mail, unless
it is delayed. But if
you do not get it
Friday you must
not be alarmed, for
you will remember
that my duties may
make it impossible
for me to write on
Thursday. If I do not
write Thursday, if I
have an opportunity before
then next week I will
send to Jackson
But if you wait
two weeks or more,
even, do not think
that I am in trouble.
for you know that
there are delays in
mail also.
I have not written
to Aunt Ann yet,
but shall this week,
perhaps to-day.
I hardly know
how it is that I
have delayed answer
there her, letter so long.
There are so many
things here which
unfit a person for
writing that I am
almost willing to stop
entirely.
Harry Church told
you that he thought
I would come home
if I had a chance,
& that I was induced
to come by Capt. May
& others who said the
war would end in a few
months. As I answered these
assertions in a letter to
Julia two days ago, & as
you will probably see that
letter, I will not say any-
thing about it here.
You asked me if
there was anything which I
wanted in particular which
I wanted if you should send
a box. I would like a couple
of red flannel shirts. Those
furnished by Government now
are white cotton shirts. I
don’t know but a sleeping cap
would be good on picket &c. some
of the boys are getting thin. If
you should send any more
woolen gloves or mittens I think
the best for our purpose are
made in this way, viz. like
mittens except the forefinger
which is separate as in a glove.
they are warmer than a glove
by having the first finger
separate we can handle our
muskets. There is no hurry
about these but as you
asked me to suggest
I have done so. I don’t
want to dictate, but a
pice of mince pie or
anything of the kind
would not be “bad
to take”. I have not
seen a pice of good
pie since I left Mich.
They have lots of things
which they call pies,
but they are “made
for soldiers”, & like
other such things they
are made of the poorest
material & sold at a
monstrous price. You
would hardly know it
was pie if you were not
told so. I have given
up camp pie & cake
long since.
We expect pay soon
& this time I mean to
send home twenty or
twenty five dollars. If
Joshua wants it let
him have it. Hereafter
I mean to send my
money home as soon
as I get it. For if I
keep it I am sure to
spend it, and much
of it for things which
I might do without. I
think I can send twenty
dollars home every pay
day just as well as not,
& if I do when I come
home it will not come
amiss in helping me
along with my educa-
tion.
Your Son Caroden.
