Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/merrill-simeon-b/
Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Febuary the 23rd 1864
Camp Bbullock near Brandy
Station Virginia
Dear Wife
I received your letter Sunday
the 21st that you wrote the 11th
was glad to hear that you were
all well as this leaves me at
present we have just got our
little log Cabbin done so that
we live very comfortable now
but we have had pretty hard
times it has been very cold
wether here for a few days
if it is in Old Virginia
We slept on the ground three
nights with nothing but Virginia
feathers under us (which is
leaves and pine boughs) but
we had our blankets to put
over us and a big log fire
to our feet which kept us
from freezing but a great
many took hard colds the
weather is fine now this morning
is as pleasant as April
Well Julia I have seen all
of the
[ ? ] Boys their Camp
is about eight miles from
here but as soon as they heard
that the Michigan Fifth were
here they came to see us
Last Sunday Daniel Smith
George Elliott and I went
over to their camp we stopped
to Lieutenant Chase and took
diner he is about two miles
from this side of the other
boys he is detailed Lieutenant
of the Ambulance Corps
he gave us a grand dinner
we had baked turkey bred
and butter tea cranbery sauce
canned peaches and mince pie
and sat down to a table with
a table cloth on the first
time that I have eat on
one since I left Michigan
after dinner he ordered an
Ambulance hiched up and
then we all got in and went
to the other boys which was
about two miles stopped with
them a little while but
Lieutenant Iver wanted me
to stop with him over night
but I could not then we got
in and rode back to Chockley
Quarters and then we had 6
miles to go after sun down
Watson Came home with us and
stopped all night
I was sorry to hear that mother
took on so about the carpet
but never mind that she
will feel better when she
gets over it wont she say
Julia. But you must use
her well for she has been
a good mother to me and to
bother of us she is quick tempered
and always frees her mind, Bully
for that, you wrote that Fred
took four steps bless that little
fellow how glad I am that he is
a getting better how I would
like to get hold of hime but I
will wate a spell I guess but
take good care of him and yourself
and I will take a little of that cau-
tion to myself, you wrote that
Mr Conrall had been to see you
and Silas I hope that they will
call often give my respects to
Mr Conrade family and the rest
of the neighbors I am glad that
Hiram is smart again when you
write again write about the
sheep and cows I would like
to know whether they are all alive
yet or not and how the
fodder holds out you must
have the sheep have some
corn if they nead it
and as soon as Thomases
pig can get its living
turn it out mind not
turn the rong one out the
barrow belongs to me feed
them the poor potatoes as
far as they will go for potatoes
will bring a good price in the
Spring by the way how does
your apples hold out I would
like about a dozen they are
onley five cents a piece
down here but I donot buy
them nor any thing else that
I can along without we had
potatoes for dinner to day
the first that we have had
Since we left the fort but we
have a plenty of good bread and
meet shugar and coffee I find
no falt with my living, now
About that money that I sent home
and the rest of the boys it was all
sent by Hartman the Sheriff to
Howell in care of John Fewlass
and he was to distribute it and
take his pay out of it and I want
he should pay McPherson $50 and
the other 13 you may have or 10
dollars of it and Hir the other three
now I have written all of this before
but didnot know that you got the
letter so good afternoon Dear wife
for this time Direct 5th Mich Infantry
from your affectionate Company G Washington
Husband S. B. Merrill D.C
[On Envelope:]
Mrs. Julia A. Merrill
Fowlerville Livingston
Michigan
