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Regiment: 1st Michigan Engineers
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Tuesday Evening
Chattanooga Tenn
Oct 4th 64
Dear Sister Met
I have just
been to singing school this
evening and as it went
very late I will try and
answer your letter which I
recieved in Georges I was very
glad to hear from you and
that you were well. I hope
that mother will be well by
the time you get his. We havent
had any mail in most two
weeks untill to day. There has
been three bags full of mail
brought down from town to
day for this regt and there is
some up town yet. I am in
hopes that I shall some tomorrow
as yours is the only one
that I have recd to day I
wish that we could capture old
wheeles if we could we could
get our mail a little more regular
George got a letter from Chett to
day she said uncle Norms and
[ ? ]
folks were out there. I whould like
to be there and have a good
visit with them for I think
that I could enjoy my self
at home a week or two. I
think that we will all be
at home in a year from now
if old. Abe is elected and I
am pretty that he will elected
what you dank eh? You must tell
dad to vote for him but I suppose
that he will know enough for
that. I want you to tell me
who Charlie cotes for I suppose
that he will vote for little
[ ? ].
I wish that I could vote
but I suppose that I cant we
took a vote in this
[ ? ] last
Sunday morning just for fun and
there was 16 votes for old Abe and
2 for little mae. We are having first
rate times down here now we have
got a good share of the work done
that we have got to do here. We havent
done any thing since last friday for
we drill four hours every Saturday
and it comenced raining Sunday after
noon and it has rained most all
the while since and it is raining
now like everything it acts as
though we were a going to have
a long spell of weather, as
it is getting quite late I will
close. I think that the stars and
stripes will float over richmond
before I get an answer from this
hurrah for old abe from you brother
Sabin to Met
[On Envelope:]
Fireside Memories
The cold east wind is blowing now,
The air is damp and chill,
The rain is fast descending on
The forest, lea, and hill;
Night’s curtains are around me drawn
And all without is gloom,
While my wood-fire’s embers throw
A brightness round the room.
I’m gazing sadly in the fire,
While memories of the past
Arise from out its mouldering coals,
And shadows round me cast;
And I with my sad heart commune,
In bitterness and pain,
For well I know the days of yore
Cannot return again.
The fire now is dying out,
The coals no longer shiner.
Alas! Alas! So hopes have paled,
Which once were fondly mine!
And though the dying embers can
Renewel be with a breath,
My hopes within the ashes lie
Of an eternal death
1864
Miss Mariette Hutchins
Berlin
Ottawa Co
Mich
