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Regiment: 5th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
5th Reg’t Michigan Cavalry, Col. Freeman Norvell.
Company H
Camp at Poolsville Feb 13th 1863
Dear Wife +Sister
It was with the greatest of pleasure
that I received your kind and affectionate letter
and I am glad to hear that you are all well as this
leaves me at present except my back, thank God for
it it has been quiet tame for a week so that I have
had nothing to do but stay in my tent and I do not
think I shall for another week the doctors have
blisted it and made it sore it is nothing serious
I caught cold in it with laying on the wet straw
when it rained so there was most an inch deep of
water in our tent all one night and most of one day
I suppose James Fort told you about it. it is very
lonesome here now Lieut Foot is dead. I miss
him very much so does all the men for they
liked him but James will tell you all about
this beautiful City I sent six cents to Bell and
my other litlle Chub so they will see Pa does
not forget them. the paymaster told the men
that went to Washington with James. that he would
be here to pay us next week. we wont refuse the
green backs. I am sorry that you have trouble to
get wood. if you were here I might furnish you with
fence rails. it has got to be so natural to take
such things it will be hard keeping hands off
when I get home. tell Walters folks they will
have to keep a guard on him when he gets home
or they will have trouble with the neighbors for
he as got such a notion that every chicken he
sees belongs to him that he will have it. we had
chicken yesterday. ask foot what chickens cost
in Washington the men are building sheds for
the horses with rails and straw. twelve men go
out scouting every day to pick up stragelers deserters
or any thing they can find they ride about twenty
miles. I should like to go with them, but I cannot
go yet. if Uncle Sam can afford to pay me
to lay still I dont care but I had rather be
able to fight. but I am affraid I shall not
be able to ride much on horse back to fight.
I suppose the rest of our Regiment is in Virginia
but we do no hear any thing from them. I do not
know how long we will be here but it maybe
some time. there is nothing of importance to
write about it is the same here every day. you
done perfectly right in getting a black dress and
bonnett. please write me how much money you
have that you have not to pay out right off so I
can tell if you can pay any thing I owed tell Alfred
that I will pay the taxes on the house you are in if
mother did not pay it before she died. Sarah there
is a (G) is Washington you left it out in your directions
I am still in hopes that this war will end soon or that I
will be home to spend the 4th July. keep up good cheer
and do not let it trouble you about my back. you had
not better say any thing about it to the folks only that it
is lame for they might think I wanted to get out of it
you know what lame spells I had to home. I think I shall
quit writing to folks in Milford. I have writen to four
and received no answer. I got a paper from Detroit
last night. this is a good soil for raising young ones
every house from Washington here and all around
here as from two to six looking out of the windows. black
white and speckeled. there is plenty of slaves around here
they say they are better treated now the soldiers are here
how would Bell like to be a little black slave like lots
I have seen but I must close for I have nothing to write about
If Mr. Crawford does not do what is right I shall forbid
Bell speaking to him or haveing any thing to do with him
give my best respects to Ogdens Hainers Heulets Parks
Weaver and all my friends that ask after a soldier. kiss
the dear children for me tell them to be good and Pa will
not forget them Joe must be a good boy if he is not you
must sent him to me and I will put him in the guard
house. I hope Sarah will not be wild but learn to be
a woman and if you do not behave well I dont know
what I shall have to do to you. I will think of it perhaps
you had better tell me. but I guess I will send
my best love to you this time hopeing this will find
you all well the Milford men are all well even
noisey Joe, but I must close so no more at present from
ever Affectionate Husband + Brother.
Geo. A. Clarkson
Co H. 5th Mich. Cav.
Washington D.C.
