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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp near Brandy Station
Virginia April 21st/64
Well Julia
I received yours of
the 10th on the evening of the
17th just one week from the time
that you wrote it and I thought
that it was a bully old letter I
like to receive such as them
for there is something worth reading
when
you I get them Some of the
boys think that I get more than
my share, maybe you would like
to know why I have not answered
it before the reason is I received
it Sunday night and Monday
morning I was detailed to go out
on picket was gone four days
just came in this after noon
we went out to pony mountain
on the Rapidan we had good
weather and all got in safe I saw
sixteen Rebs this morning that
that came acrost the Rapihannock
and gave themselvs up to the
picket yesterday morning five of
them came over and one of them
was a Major I hope that they will
keep a doing so, You wrote that
I must not go out on pickett
but I could not mind you this
time now dont scold for I like
it well for there is not much
to do but they keep us a bobbing when
we are in camp so that we can
hardly get tim to wright,
I cannot write as much news
as you did in your last letter
you wrote that Theressa was married
to David Parmen I think that
that must been hatched up in
a hurry but that is the best
way to do business to strike
when the iron is hot, but
what will Mis Ann think
I suppose that she thinks that
there is time enough and
men enough left yet for
her, Well Julia I was glad to
hear that Fred was so smart
he must be getting to be quite
a man if he can go up
stairs and sleep but you must
be carefull or he will be
falling down stairs I suppose
that he keeps thinks a stirring
pretty lively I think that I
would liketo see him read
write and whistle he must
be a getting to be quite a
rowdey, I think that your hens
must be a doing pretty well I
guess that you have kept them
pretty well I would like it if
I had a few of the eggs they
sell them here for sixty cents
a dozen but I have not
tasted of one since I left
home I am sorry that you
are not a going to have two
cows this summer I dont
know how you will get along
for milk and butter but you
must do the best that you can
but I was in hopes that you could
make butter this summer to
sell to get groceries with,
That bond that you have got you
had better let Old Mr McPherson
have it for it will help stop that
hole and when you get that money
I want you to pay your hierd girls
and Mr Scull and get one dollars
worth of postage stamps and send
me four or five at a time for
I cannot get them here without
sending to Washington and I had
as lives send home I received a line
from George Brown this evening he is
well I hope that I shall hear from you
soon for I wantto know how you are a getting
along I have not time to write any more
this evening for the drum has beet to
blow out lights this is the first time that
I have tried to write in the evening
write soon or get some one to write for you from your husband S.B. Merrill
good night
[On Envelope:]
Mrs. Julia Merrill
Fowlerville Livingston Co
Michigan