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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Division Hospital near
Brandy Station Virginia
March 15th 1864
Dear Friends
I say friends still
you seam more like Parents to
me I thought that I would try
and write a few lines to you
to let you know where I am and
how I am I am in the Hospital
yet but so as to be around I have
not drilled but two half days since
I came to Virginia when we first
came here it was very cold had
no tents hadto sleep on the ground
three or four nights I say sleep
we did not sleep for it was so
cold that we could not sleep
but stood around big log fires and
freeze one side while you was warming
the other I took a very heavy cold
but got over that prety much but
was taken again the 24th of Febuary
with the Inflamation on the lungs
the Doctor called it but I
called it Pleuracy but my lungs
were affected to I was conciderable
sick I was sent to the camp
Hospital stooped there one day
and one night then was sent
to the Division Hospital about
four miles from my Regiment
so that I am among strangers
as well as in a strange band but
I keep up good spirits yet Mr
Smith came over to see me yesterday
and fetched me three letters which
done me more good than all the
medecine that I have taken in
a week I received two from Julia
and one from James good news
from
in them all I tell you Mr Conrad
that there is nothing that does a
soldier more good than a letter
from his friends especialy when he
is sick
I had not heard from home
since about the 20th of Febuary till
yesterday so you can imagine how
eager I was to see the contents
of them Our Hospital is in a very
pleasant place on a hill half-a
mile from the station a little
accident happened yesterday on the
railroad in sight of the Hospital
one of the rails broke threw the cars
off and killed on negro and wounded
two or three white men
I suppose that you and Charles are
making sugar by this time how
I would liketo be there to help
scrape the kettle but I dont think
that I shall be there this Spring
I would like to have you and
Mrs Conrad go and see Julia as
often as you can and cheer her
up and keep her in good
spirits for that is half of
the battle
write to me as often as you
can and I will tray and answer
them I cannot write very well
for my hand is not very steady
and haveto write on my knee
give my respects to my family
if you see tham and all enquiring
friends so no more at present
from your affectionate and sincere
friends S. B. Merrill
Direct to 5th Michigan Infantry
Company G
Washington D C
[On Envelope:]
Mr Dennis Conrad
Fowlerville Livingston
Michigan
