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Regiment: 5th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Bullock Virginia
March the 29th /64
Dear Wife
I thought that I
would write a few lines in
reply to your ever welcome
letter of the 20th I received
it the 27th was glad to hear
that you and Freddie were
so smart. how I would like
to off seen him dressed up
in his pants and short dress
that Sunday a making fun
for you. Julia I am getting
pretty tough can eat every
thing before me we have a
plenty to eat and that
that is better than I had to
the Hospital I think that
I shall comeit now like a
mice I have drew another
gun since I came back
and yesterday I went out with
my company and drilled
to day it rains but not very
hard, you wrote that the
sheep looked well glad to
her it quite an increase in
the flock glad that you have
got them into the stable
why Julia you must be quite
a Shepherd sorry that your
sheep lost her lamb I suppose
that I shall have to give you
another one for taking care
of the others and learning them
to eat, well Julia if there is
another odd number of lambs
I guess that I will have to
give it to you do you know
him, I sent a certificate
of my enlistment some time
a go that Captain Rose gave
me and you have not written
whether you have received it
or not if you have it is
not good for any thing I
suppose for it does not
mention the Town or County
that I enlisted from
But he gave me one to day
that I think is right and
will enable you to draw from
the relief fund you must
get your Father to look to
it for you for he will know
something about the business
you can draw so much a month
but how much I cannot tell
you wrote that Mr Hilliams
had gone a way I am afraid
that you girls will have cold
fingers a good many times
before you get through foddering
I suppose that Frank is the
mane stay of the Family now
tell her that I want here to attend
to things around there about
right if she is a school marm
To Frank
Frank I want you to write
to me and tell me if you
think that my girl writes to
a certain your man in the
26th Michigan Infantry for I saw
a young man have a letter that
I think that she directed for the
writing looked exactly like hers
now you must keep this still and
[ ? ] I suppose that you
donot get any letters from
Albert Messengers now
for I have heard that he
was home now please
write to me about this
matter and explain it
to me if you can
Hell Frank I guess that this will do
For me a married man
Explain but what I have written here to you
Explain it if you can
Allen Shattock came over
to see me this after noon
and I went back with him
and stopped a little while
and then came back and wrote
this letter he received a letter
from James last night he
sayed that he had been quite
sick I received one from Silas
last night he wrote that Thomas
had enlisted and when I was
reading it Thomas sat by the
side of me Thomas thought that
he had beat him a little
I hope that I may be as lucky
every Saturday night as I was
last night to get two letters
Julia I do not know what to
say to you only to keep up
good courage give my respects
to our parents and all enquiring
friends when you write again
write how your mother is a getting
along and your Father with
his rheumatism tell Mother
that she must get James
to write for her so no more
at present
S. B. Merrill
Direct your letters plain
Company G fifth Michigan
Infantry
[On Envelope:]
Mrs Julia Merrill
Fowlerville Livingston Co
Michigan
