Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/hogmire-mitchell-h/
Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp east of Jackson
Jan 19/63
Dear Jane & Parents
I have seated myself to pen a
few lines to you this leaves me all well &
hope it will find you the same to day is one of the
toughest days I have seen we have about six
inches of snow but it is raining & has been
all day Ed & myself Recd some mail the other
day but I was out on a scout & have not
had a chance to write to you so you will have to
excuse my delay But I will say that I certainly was glad
to hear from home had made up my mind
that you had almost forgot that you had friends
in the sunny South. The last trip we took was
out to Brownsville & it was a good one too for me
for I made $50.00 in exchangeing scrip
for Greenbacks have you got the money I sent
you when out at Holley Springs if so let
me know I sent $5.00 by mail Dont know
how long it will be before we get paid off & I dont
like to send my money home by mail but will
send some this time the boys are owing me about
$40.00 in the Company so you see I will have
quite a pile coming to me pay Day
Jane I will give you a an idea of our camp
the water is about 4 inches deep in our tent
& you would think it an unfit place for men
to live in But it is all for the love of Country
the Boys say our axes have been sent to town
to be sharpened & tomorrow we build stables
for our Horses. Oh, that makes me think
of Delberts 10,000 Dollar Horse he never took a
Horse from a Rebel I dont believe in his life
it was all a Hoax. Cruth Malery & myself got
3 Horses When at Brownsville that was the best
we have taken since I have been here
Mother you asked me to give you & idea
of what we done while in camp After comeing
in from a scout the first thing is to clean up
our guns for inspection for that has to be
every night at roll call We have 5 roll calls
a day one at revelree 1 at breakfast 1 at noon
at supper & at nine Ocl & all that dont answer
to their names get pricked & have to stand
guard no man is alowed down town unless
he has a pass if he is he is put in the guard
house As to Sundays Mother they are as other
days with us for we have our duty to do
Jane I saw Cub Whitney at the Junction
& he said Edmond was all right well
& tough as a bear Charley Luce I saw
to & is well & they say he is one of the best
soldiers they have We took supper with him
Ben Bridges Ed & myself Ben is well tell
Ruth her Joe has sore eyes yet & probly
will as long as he etc etc I will send you 10
Dollars this time tell Uncle Noble I
got a letter from him & will answer it
when I get time my best respects to all
It cant be posible that Mrs Basley is ded
is it. It must be hard for Basley but we
have to lose friends in this world
tell Uncle Henry that I would like to
hear from him in reply to my letter my
best repects to all
Duane I can say it done me good
to read your letter & write often & I will
try & answer them but we are busi just now
& dont get much time to write but will
make this up by writing more next
time tell Dan he had better make
his promise good
One thing more The officers names
First is Col. Mizener Chief Cavalry
Majors 3 Sailor, Moiers, Wilcox
to Trudy & Jane & all of the rest
MHH
