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https://micivilwar.com/authors/foreman-james-a/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George B. McClellan
Camp Michigan Jan 5th
Dear Dollie
how I would have liked to
have been with you and Paul to
dureing the hole days. What good
times we would have had would suit
me. how often I think of you and
as often wonder if we are to live any
of the pleasant happy times over
again that we have seen together
if not whatever fate awaits me I can
at least look back upon this one bright
spot in my existence. it is true
that we had some little differences
at times but you know there
are but few perfect in this poor
world of ours you say you do not
know what you should do if you
had no one to write to as to call
them there dear little wife now my
dear did you ever hear of an American
soldier that had neither wife or sweet
heart don’t you reccollect reading
a poem a year or so ago by Thackery
the great English Novelist that the
women were the cause of most of
the enlistments in our service. I
mention this merely showing that
they are all great lovers of the sweet
little imps but I know that my
little wife is not goose enough
to think that I left because she
wasent one of the derest best little
wives that ever lived.
I am well and enjoying or trying
to enjoy myself as well as I can so
far away from home you ask
me how I get my washing done
Now Dollie away down here in
Virginna there is some of the pretty-
-est springs of pure soft water that
I ever saw well…well…
[ ? ]
I take a kettle. a hunk of soap my
socks and shirts build a fire heat
the water put in the things and steam
them up pretty well darn it I
cant give you the whole modus
opparandi but I manage to get them
quite clean we manage to get them
ironed after we put them on
There are all kinds of remarks here in
regard to our movements there is now
one that we are going to South Carolina
soon but it may be only a rumor
but it is quite evident that we shall
not lay here a great while long
inactive. if England does not interfere
with us I think we are not to have
a verry long war but as McClellan
says a short but terrible one. there I
see I have written a good eal more
than you did. I shant write any more
until you learn to write longer
letters. Why cant you. did you ever
notice how poor it made a letter
look to write it on halp a sheet.
but then I do not know what I
should do if I could not get
your good but short letters.
