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Regiment: 1st U.S. Volunteers Sharpshooters
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of the 1st Regt US.SS.
Army of the Potomac
May 19th 1863
My Mary.
Yours of the 9th I received
yesterday. You should have had a
letter from me about that time as
I wrote you as soon as possible
after the battles. I was sure I would
get another from you to day but
it will come to-morrow certain.
The Army is lying very
quiet trying to keep cool during
the “heated term.” Which is fast
approaching through as yet the air
is stiring about sufficiently to
make its influence felt.
You write you do not
know but you did wrong in not
teaching school this season and ask
me what I think of it, I answer.
If you think there is any pleasure
to yourself in making a drudge
of yourself by allowing yourself to be
dependent upon a neighborhood who
all more or less have a right to cen=
sure and criticise. And that you
will thereby enjoy the time more pleas=
=antly. I would do so. Otherwise not.
Looking at it in another way
providing you had the best of luck
it is a tiresome humdrum life
to lead. And I had rather you
would stay at home this summer
While on Picket a few days
ago we had gay times the Rappa=
=hannocks between us and the Rebs.
My boys would swim across exchange
papers and chat for hours beneath
the shade of willows which line
the bank. They were old
friends.
We had been opposed to them every=
=where many a scar they showed of the
affrays we had been in. Our wounded
are mostly discharged theirs never
until dead. They told us that
a whole brigade were driven back
in the fight of Sunday by a handful
of our men but they supposed there
was a Division of us. They had
found it was the “Berdans US.SS.”
and well pleased they were to meet
us on friendly terms.
With love and just one kiss
Yours Ever
G. B. Clark
Co. “C” 1st US.SS.
[On Envelope:]
Miss Mary Baxter
Grand Rapids
Box 450
Michigan
