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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp at St Louis Mo April 29
Dear Wife
Today at noon I received your
letter which bears date of April
24th And you may be assured
it was perused with the greatest
of pleasure as they ever are
It also found us all well but
James Bridges and he is not
bad off only a shake at the
Ague he has heard that his Wife
is not well and has put in for
a furlough and I guess he will
get one of fifteen days I think it
would do her more good to send
her the money it will cost him
to go home and stay where he
is for we have good fare enough
for me but it is laughable to hear
some of the new recruits complain
of hard fare but they know nothing
of such as yet We have no horses
yet and dont know when we will and
I dont know as I want too as long
as we remain here and everything
looks as though we were going to for a long
time We have no other duty than
to guard the Secesh Prisoners
but it takes us most all of the time
to do that on Guard every other day
and I am on for three days with
three others commencing tomorrow
morning. One of our men by the
name of John Fouts Seventh Kansas
Man Absented himself from
the Guard house and did not
return in time to go on his reg
ular trick of guard and for this
he has to carry 20 lbs in weight
for 12 hours 3 successive days
2 hours on and 2 hours off with
a playcard on his Back with the
inscription on it Neglect to
do Guard duty I say how would
you like that it may seem rough
but such is Military rules
Oh Jane how it made me feel
to hear that Henry was dead
and Albert too he took it very
hard here let me say that Albert
had his fortune told at Kalamazoo
by an old woman and she told
him he had a Brother in the service
and that his time was most out
but he would be shot in Battle
and Albert was talking with me
about it before we heard of his death
and he seamed to think down hear
ted about it But how true it has pro
ven But we must all die and no one
knows whose turn is next and
how little we all seam to think
of it. I heard from Milan the
other day Samuel Luts came up
from there says they are having easy
times
Jane you seem to think I
will not come home next fall
but I have the word of Colonel
Mizner and I think it is
good to tell Duane I want him
to attend to the seeing that piece of
land in Bangor for I can trade
and make a good things out of it
and it may save Henry and
Noble some trouble too for if I
cant sell it to save myself I
will make them come up to the
scratch
you want to have my photograph
taken full size it will cost $15.00
per doz and I ant able to do it
now dont be disapointed. to day
we mustered for pay the Company
never was as near straped as now
and I know I never was
Jane take good care of your health
and Trudy Give my best respects
to all and reserve a goodly share
for yourself Excuse all mistakes
Yours untill Death
write twice a week and I will M. H. H.
