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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Page No 1
Tuscumby Saturday Sept 6th 1862
Dear Wife
tis noon & I have seated my self to write a few
lines to let you know how we have lived & What
we have seen since we left home you asked me to
give you the names of the places we pass through
We left Paw Paw on Sunday night August
24
th next morning landed in Jackson
[ ? ] at the hotell & then was marched up to head
quarters was examined got out certificates
& loitered around all day went down to the
jail & it is a sight worth a mans time &
money to go & see next morning at 3 oclock
we were al marched up to the depot & started
for Detroit & all seemed in good spirits got
to Detroit & marched up to the rail road depot
to get Breakfast but could not get & had to
march from one house to another for
Nearly 3 hours bfore we got Breakfast but
when we got it we did homage to it
We were next marched up to the Baracks
it was nearly noon & dinner was waiting
us & it consisted of Bacon sour Bread & coffee
No 2
you must know that kind of food goes
hard for men that has been use to living at
home well & in the next place we were not
permitted to go out of the Camp unless we
could run the gard & we did the day Colonel
Wilcox came in & staid in town
all day we had a geniral time too if I mistake
not. On Monday night we left Detroit
for the south at 9 oclock at night drew our
pay at 4, & had to leave at 9 we marched
to town with the promise that we could
have time to write & send our money home
but was not permitted to do so not even
allowed to brake ranks but by chance
We saw Mr Conway & trusted our
money in his hand I sent $35 doll
now do with it as you may think best
but dont pay Mr Randol
Now I will give you the names of the
places on our route we did not go to
Chicgo but went to the Junction
with the Central Illinois Railroad
a pace called Calamet got at this place
a little after sunrise ha no supper the night
before because we did not have time to eat
it & our rations was not where we could not
get at them the cars was switched off at
Calamet & our Majar & the provitions
was sent on but the Major jumped off
& was hurt some & it was a pitty it did
not kill him for he never got us water or
any thing until about 2 oclock in the after
I call this a good introduction to privation,
3
[clipped away] If is night & I have
[clipped away] seated myself to finish my
[clipped away] letter we left Calamet in
[clipped away] the morning about nine
[clipped away] & the most important
[clipped away] will give you the first is
Matteson, Richton, Monee, & we got
our dinner at Kankaky & it is the hansome
place we saw on our route next place
we came to was Clifton, Tolone,
Tuscolona, Arcola Aetna & at Mason is
a Nursery & the only one I saw on our
route Lakely is the next important
place Alma
[ ? ] this is the junct
ion of the Ohio & Missippi with the Central
Illinois & at St Aralia we took supper
it only cost us 50 cts a piece we then got on
the cars for Cairo it is 115 miles & it was night
we got at Cairo at 3 oclock in the morning but could
not leave the cars untill day light & when
the sun arose it was a sight to behold nearley
30 mounted Cannon was on the bank of the
4
the river & the steam boats
[clipped away]
they could be for a mile or
[clipped away]
was orderd out of the cars
[clipped away]
then called then marched
[clipped away]
steamer Fanton for
[clipped away]
down the Missippi it is a sight
[clipped away]
the cotton that has been Cramped & the
darkeys too we arived at Columbus at
noon marched on dock & then up to a
large 4 story house built probly for a
Hospital by the Rebels. at this place we
first saw the effects of war Canon
dismountd & balls scatered all round
trees cut down, but to my
[ ? ] marched
up to the 3
rd story & then a portion of the
floor was divide off for us the dirt was
abut 2 inches deep & Bed bugs my God by the
quarts next thing was to appoint a
quartermaster & a cook to prapare a
supper for us it consisted of Bakers
bread Bacon & coffee after supper we
was permitted to go down to the River & bathe
5
next had to prepare for sleep & it did not take
us long for all of the cothing we drew was a
Blouse & a cap No Blankets not one in the Com
pany. but I rested very well for I was chosen to
stand guard over 5 men that came in in the
even
[clipped away] pposed to be Rebls next morning we
went on to the cars for Corinth One hundred
& Ninety miles distant arived after dark was
marched up to the Corinth house to get supper
it consisted of the same food as before marched
down to the railroad shed & slept on the floor
all night next morning I bought my breakfast
for fear I should not get a chance at a tavern again
very soon. I was surprised to find the state
of Kentuckey in such a state of Wilderness
the day I passed through the state was the fir
st time I ever saw cotton Growing next
state we passed through was Tennessee
next to Tuscumbia where we are now
the Regiment is all divided up in to small
squads Co A is at the railroad watching it
we saw Ben bridges & looks as tought as a hog
6
did not have time to ask him any questions
for the cars was on motion when we got
to this place we marched down to the spring
the first good water since we left home next
marched up to Co. H & We are stopping here
now we have plenty to eat the
[clipped away]
Beff & a hog after we came in to camp
there is 117 Alabamians in camp who
have deserted from the Southern Army
within a few days & Co. C is up in the
Mountains 15 mi distant they took 10
Rebels last night. they are having plenty
of fun among the Rebels
but I must close for I want
to on a scout please give my best repects
to all
I will write more next time
kiss Trudy for me & hope for the best
yours till death M. H. H.
Direct to Army of the Missippi
Mich 3
rd Cavalry Co. C
