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https://micivilwar.com/authors/campbell-james/
Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Fairfax Virginia
May 28/63
Mr & Mrs Snook
Since our return here from O-e-coquan I have been indulging in easy times
indeed we really required a little rest after a months hard and dangerous work. I received your
kind letter of May 19th was amoung the first things I could ask for. you at home dont know
how much a letter is worth to a soldier in the land of treason and traitors, for it is the only
medicine of talk he has in his isolated fix; a dollar for a page is a temptation if he could not read
or hear the contents of the letter. You may think perhaps I begin to wish myself back or that
a little fear has come over me. Or perhaps I dont fear the rebs half as much as I do the
Virginia greybacks and wood ticks, the former of the two have not preyed upon my wollen
yet, but the wood ticks files himself with the rid without any senerary. But I did not propose
to entertain you long with this topic. Family, home and friends, and country are what I am
here for. here to help protect and secure to them a country, institution and homes which will
render family and friends inteligent and happy not only for the present, but the future also.
There is a feature in Southern civilization about which we at the north understand but little of
ignorance of the most degrading character. A man of comon observation and thout
cannot avoid the conclusion that a fearful despotism and teranny have hold one is on sway over
the laboring classes of the country.
But few Southern birth, not weathy can read or write and their knowledge of the
adjoining country is
[ ? ] nothing while their language differs nothing from the most uneducated
field negro. I will give you one sample of their style of speaking. “Wees dout wants to fight
yous why do yous com to fight wees for”. Thus you see the north are not only waring to
uphold the government, but against a system more intolerant than death.
A man not the owner of a slave was of but little acct prior to the rebellion. But
I must change the topic. So Mag has become a wife – well, I suppose it will have to be so,
But you put me in a great query when you mentioned of having a little daughter. I could not
think how it that would be but you made it all plain in the next sentence
I really dont know what the poor women will do here for there are about four of
them to one man poor things! I dont se how they can think much of Jeff Davis. I am writing
under orders to move further to the front, probably to Warrenton or Fredericsbugh. I returned
last night from washington, I was sent in command of twenty men as an escort and shall
probably leave hear tomorrow morning Please favor me with an occasional sheet
Yours with much respect
James Campbell
