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Regiment: 8th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Detroit Sept. 4th, 1862
Dear Ma, and all
I am in Detroit this morning. We came here yesterday morning but came in the city
Tuesday night. I am well and feel good. I wanted to come home when I heard that Almira was
sick, but was afraid it would make me sick again to ride down and back. I wish that I could hear
from there this morning, but I cannot. We were uniformed yesterday, and expected to leave last
night for Washington, but do not go till tonight. I want to get my likeness taken before I go, but
don’t believe I can, for we cannot get out of the barracks. There are lots of soldier here. Hank
Jones & Hank Smith are here. A soldiers life is a queer one. We will have better fare when we get into camp, but we have as good here as can be expected. Last night for supper we had bread & molasses & pork & coffee. The cooks have to work hard to cook for so many. Last night we were called up to receive our pay, but were not paid. We will be paid today most likely. I shall not send home as much money as I expected to, for I had to pay quite a doctor bill, and I bought me a pair of boots to wear south. I am allowed for the shoes.
I will send 23 or $30 home. I want to keep enough so that I won’t suffer. I wish I had
brought a towel and another pair of stockings. We did not get any socks yesterday nor no blanket, nor drawers. We got two shirts, one pair of pants, one dress coat, a fatigue coat, cap and over coat; and shoes if we wanted them, and then our knapsack, haversack, and canteen. Fuller has spoken to the colonel of our Regt. about my going as drummer and he said it would be all right. There are about 36 of the 8
th Regt. to go from here now. The boys I enlisted with are down
there. I am going to send my clothes to Tom Annis and you can get them from there. The soldiers are forming in a line for breakfast. The most of them are a jolly set, and a fellow can’t help but laugh some times, if he tries not to. We eat in a long room, and have seats. I wish I could get a letter from home, but I cannot tell you where to direct your letters yet, if we move to night. I will write as soon as I can again. Let Ann read this and I want to have you write just as soon as you find out where to write.
from William D. Longyear
