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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
1st Division Hospital near
Brandy Station Virginia March 17th
1864
Well Julia
I feel pretty
well to day hope these few
lines may find you in good
health and spirits I have felt
better ever since Monday maybe
you would like to know what
makes me feel so well I will
tell you, Monday morning the 14th
Daniel Smith came to the
Hospital and fetched me three letters
two from you and one from
James I was glad to hear that
you were well I had looked
for one a great while but in
vain but the long looked for
came at last I am getting along
fine had as lives be here
as any where in Virginia for
I am getting acquainted nothing
to do and a good bed to
sleep on the Hospital
is in a very pleasant place
half a mile from the Station
can see the cars a going
and coming each way from
Alexandria one way and Cullpepper
the other five or six times a day
there is a great deal of business
done on this road a carrying hay
grain and provisions
There was an accident happened
the other day in sight of us
one of the rails broke threw
the cars off the track and killed
one negro and wounded three
or four white men it brok
the negroes head and one of his
legs Julia I have got some
nice little Books that I
would like to send to you if
I can get a chance to mail
them Some that the Chaplain
presents to us every week from the
United states Christian
Commission we have all the
Books and Papers that we can
read here in the Hospital
but they do not get them in
Camp I gave three Papers and
one Book to Mr Smith the morning
that he was here
Julia I was glad to hear
that every thing was getting along
so fine you can give
Joseph
Mr Williams that coat that I got
of him for probably he will
nead it by the time that he
leaves you Julia write as often
as you can for you must know
that I am quite anxious to
hear from home if you cannot
why get some one to write for
you for a letter from home
cheers a soldier up puts new
life and energy into them
especialy if he gets good news
tell Harriett to be a good
girl and take good care of Freddy
and if I live to come back
I will bring her some nice
present give my respects
to Father and Mother Caswell to
young Caswell and his wife to
my folks and as many more
as you are a
[ ? ] so good
after noon Julia for this time
From your husband
S. B. Merrill
high private
in the rear
rank
Direct 5th Michigan Infantry
Company G
Washington D C
[On Envelope:]
Mrs Julia Merrill
Fowlerville Livingston Co
Michigan
