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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp at DuValls Bluff July 4th
64
Dear Jane
I have now seated myself to let
you know how things are progressing
this the fourth day of July 1864 to day
we have no duty to do and of course
have to imploy the time in
some way and I will mine by
writing to you this leaves us
all well and the most of the
boys feeling well for they have
been at town and mad a charge on
some Beer but Edwin and Albert
did not go Albert has been chopping
wood most all day gets $2.00 per cord
but I cant stand it to chop I
chopped half a day and made near
ly 20 blisters on my hads and
have gave it up as a bad job
Edwin Received a letter from Mother
yesterday I did not get any but will
probly the next time any comes
up the River This day Jane is to me
rather a lonesome day. for my dinner
Edwin and I bought a can of oysters
and of course had a tip top time
eating them and thought of home
but of course that is all we can
do but I think if nothing happens
the 3rd day of October next will
find me a Citizen of Michigan
instead of a soldier Our Colonel
says we are to mustered out
then but if we dont we can stand
it another year but Ed says he dont
believe it for it is not his luck
Charley Luce came yesterday he
was here as the 12 is camped within
40 rods of our camp Edward
Rice was here he looks well Charley
fetched Ben Boots and they
fit well now Jane when you
answer this tell me what
you all are doing and how
The Nursery looks this summer
and if they take good care of it etc.
there is no prospect of our getting
payd off verry soon and I dont
know as it makes much difference
as it would not be safe to send
money home now by letter so you
must get along as well as you
can Jane have your photograph
taken and send it to me if you
can will you how I would to get
Trudys Picture and in fact would
like to have mothers and Fathers tell
them so I am going to write to Aunt
Calista to day Edwin wrote to
her the other day how I would like
some of her famed Potatoes think
I could do them Homage But have
Hard tack and sow belly is
good enough for a Rackensack
soldier dont you think so
Mother
do you think Sam Smaley has gone to
Idaho or has he gone off to get rid
off the Draft how I would like to
see some of those chaps down
here think this is the right place
for them would think 3 or 4 years of
service would tame them some
Vickey done first rate in writing
to Edwin tell her I would like for
her to write to me tell Fred and Ruth
I would to have them write to me
I would answer them I wrote to
Ike and got answer wrote he was
all on the nip up Oh I like to forget say
any thing about Milan and Andrew
Charley they are well but it takes
Andrew to beat them all in getting
mail and the most of it comes
from his intended but I will have
to close for the want of room you
will have to excuse all mistakes and
Brevity give my best respects
to all inquiring friends and
tell Trudy Pa sends her a kiss
Yours truly until Death MHH
