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Regiment: 1st Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Buthe
Newport News Va
May 11th 1862
Dear
[ ? ]
I wrote, as I supposed, my fi
nal letter from this camp. but it pleased
the “great powers” to ordain it otherwise for at
midnight of the same eve I wrote. Our orders
were countermanded + we were held as
reserves As the facts are now before the
world at large. I care but little for I think
the laurels now at Norfolk not of the most
improvishable sort. The past week has been
full of incident + excitement to this de-
partment. From the time our gunboats began
work on Friday A.M. until the explosion of
the magazine of the
[ ? ] but as
you will see many accounts of it
in the papers before this reaches for
I leave it for those whose bunness
it is to use their descriptive powers
to give you correct ideas of the subject.
I will only say that twas more than
six miles away + the concusion
shook our
[ ? ] so that we were alarmed.
I suppose it is not proper for a soldier
to say that he is alarmed at anything
but to be started from a grond doze by
such a report as that was will try the
moves of veterans. My first thought was
that Merrimac was tossing shell into
our camp + that our had struck uncom-
fortably near my tent, but the idea was
instantanous + was in a twinkling dis-
missed + I felt sure that the Merrimac
had blown up My first news con-
firming the idea was brought by Albert
-our servt- “Lieut” said he as he set down my
wash dish an hour after “The Merrimac
has gone when all the rebels are going”
What do you mean, said I offecting a yawn
“Blown to H-l Didn’t you hear it” I re-
-marked that I thought one of the guard
had accidentally discharged his rifle-
“Well I declare I should have thought that
report would have thrown you out of
your bunk” + he went out muttering
something about, if all the artellery of
Fort Monroe were firing over my head
I would declare some one was
snapping caps on a
[ ? ]
I had thought that the capture of Richmond
would end the war, that is ofter one other
[ ? ] engagment in the West, but from todays
intelligence I fear that tis to be prolonged.
The rebels are retreating across the James
+ we will have to follow + make another
campaign. This one I consider finished.
The possession of the Mississippi River
+ the state of Va –end it-.
My
[ ? ] Abbott does not get better + is going
to Baltimore early this week. I go with
him. If he does not
[ ? ] very raoud-
ly then he will return to Mich.-
He tells me I
must not leave
his
company in the hands of strange
officers- I fear he
[ ? ] finished his
career as a soldier—
I had hoped that when the enemy was
cleared from this department that I could
procure a leave of abscence, but now I
will have to stand by for a General Order says
that two officers
must be with this Cos-
Probably our Reg will be ordered to some
other position. I cannot see the use
of so great a force here There are some
17 Regs + I can see no work for them to
do except eat this ration.
Unless we change + are placed when there
is a prospect of work, something will be done on my part
Remember me to your people at
Mt. M. + your Mother at home-
Write
[ ? ] very often. perhaps I
will tell you of a trip up the Chesapeake
in my next— In haste
Always Yours
Will Byrns
[On Envelope:]
Miss Florence Clark
Care. C.R. Adams Esq.
Mount Morris
New York
Lieut Byrns
No. 65 May 11
th 62
Newport News
“They
[ ? ] to
[ ? ] tell us love can die.
With life all other passons
[ ? ]
All others are but
[ ? ].
But love is in
[ ? ].”
