Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/foreman-james-a/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Winfield Scott April 26th
My Dear dear Wife
can you forgive me the
miserable grumbling letter I wrote you last
week but I felt bad and cross that
I could get no letter from you when I
had had them so long and regular. but
I see that I found fault without a cause
for day before yesterday I received the first
letter you wrote me after you got able to write
It had got mislaid at some office
I will never blame you again. this morning
I received your letter announcing the death of
our little girl. what can I say to console you
in our sad bereavement. it cannot be expected
that I would feel her loss as you do as I never
saw her and had not learned to love her as
you had. I could realize your feelings better
by placing Paul in her place. I could hardly
keep from crying on reading your letter. how
sad and lonesome you must be. would
that I were with you where god knows I
should be how often have I cursed the day
that I ever left so good a wife. when is this
accursed rebellion going to end. I fear not
without the loss of thousands more of valuable
lives. I believe it is carried on in the most
uncivilized manner of any war know of
late years. all other notions have always respected
a picket guard before this. we just came
off this morning we had some verry narrow
escapes the rebels were not satisfied to shoot
at us with rifles but they threw shell
and solid shot from cannon at us
one shell burst right over our heads the
pieces flying all amongst us one piece spilt
a gun and another went through one of the
boys coat but no one was hurt and then
again there is such wanten destruction
of property on a farm where we encamped
when we first came here there was
sheep cattle hogs turkeys and chickens
about three hundred acres of improvement
well fenced two good houses farms
and outbuildings. but now everything
has disappeared and should the owner come
back he would find himself a poor man
Yes Dollie they have had a terrible Battle in
Tennesee I suppose we can claim the victory
but many such would be worse than defeat
we had quite a fight here a short time
ago on our left but I guess we got the
worst of the bargain but no particular blame
can be attached to any one high in authority
here but arriginated in a mistake there can
be no doubt as to the final result of the
great Battle we have Batteries placed all
over through the woods some of the guns
will shoot five miles. I think some fine
morning before long there will be an astonished
lot of natives when the woods are cut away
and our batteries unmasked there is verry
busy times here now large fatigue parties
working night and day I think the spring
must be a good cal earlier here than in
Michigan for fruit trees of all kind have
long been in bloom and the forest trees
have put on there pretty coat of green
what a pleasure it gave me to learn that
our dear little boy had got well again
for what should we do should he too be taken
from us. but god will not thus afflict us
do you believe he will. how tight we are
bound here. were it not so and could I
get away from the army with honor (and
I know you would not wish me too otherwise) how
soon would I be with you I am sure this
accursed rebellion can not last much longer
and then should I survive this result
we can be hapy again in each others society
will we not dear.
how have you got along without any money
but there is now a prospect of your setting our
pay but I do not now as I can send
it for there is no chance only by mail
and you know money letters verry often fail
to reach there designed destination however
I will trust five dollars in a letter
and put the rest in our Captains hand
until next pay day which will be in about
three weeks when the men that were
appointed by the state will be here and
you can draw it from them. perhaps there
may be a chance to send the whole by express
lots of kisses to you and Pauly.
ever time Jim
we received our pay to day enquire at the
office for a letter directed rought + ready and
enclosed is $5.00
