Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/burge-caroden-s/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Fort Lyons, Nov 1st/61.
Dear Mother:
I rec’d yours
yesterday. I am sorry you
had not received my letters,
as I wrote intending you
should get it Friday. In my
last I told you what things
I should want. I do not really
nead a sleeping cap as our cap
are of such shape that we can
sleep in them. I expect that we
are now in winter quarters.
About mittens, yarn mittens would
not do much good; I might use
yarn gloves, but I can get along without
them as I can get leather gloves here.
But a good pair of high topped
boots here costs ten dollars. But
Government may furnish us boots
yet. I have good shoes.
I have been to Mount Vernon
to-day. It is about seven miles
down the river. I saw Washingtons
tomb & the marble coffin said to
contain his remains. I entered the
house in which he used to live
& saw the saddle bags he used & other things
I saw also in the green house
Washington’s orange tree with green oranges
upon it, and lemon trees with lemons
upon them also the Palmetto tree I
saw the Magnolia tree
oposed
planted by Washington’s our hand, &
a shrub taken from the grave
of Napoleon Boneparte. It would
take too long to tell all I
saw. The garden is very
pretty & enclosed by a brick fense.
The vault containing his remains
is somewhat out of repair. Vines
are creeping over it. The marble
coffin, or Sarcophagus, is exquis
itely Chiseled, & on the lid is
2
the simple name – Washinton
On the lid also is an eagle
nesting upon a shield & holding
a quiver of arrows & the
stars
&
stripes. On the other side of
the vault is another marble
Coffin and in the lid is
chisled, – Martha consort of
Washington. I will send
you tomorrow a National
republican containing some
specimens of leaves &c which I got at
Mount Vernon. The paper
contains a description of the
fleet which has just sailed
from
Anapo Fortress Monroe.
I hope we shall hear glorious
news from it soon. May
Providence give it success.
I hope it may not be nec-
essary for God to chasten us
long.
Lucy has not written lately.
I am glad she is going
to school, but if she does
I don’t want her to forget
the writing to me. I claim
enough of her time for
that.
Why do not Stepfan’s folks
write. I wrote to them long
ago.
Your Son
Caroden.
A soldier died in the
hospital here day before yesterday
He was about 35 years of age, &
left at home a wife & three or
four children-. C.
I also send you a Harper’s Weekly
containing a piece of grape vine which grew
directly over the remains of Washington
I have put some sealing wax on the ends to preserve it.
[On Envelope:]
Miss L. J. Snyder,
South Jackson
Mich.
