Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/norris-clinton-f/
Regiment: 18th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Nashville Tenn, Nov 24th /63
Friend Ettie
I received your kind letter the 2nd
inst, and as usual, was much pleased with the contents.
I think you verry kind indeed to engage a small portion
of your hurried moments in writing to me, and will not intrude
upon your generous self by asking you to write any oftener than
you can conveniently. I looked for your letter two or three
days before it came, you see I know about the time to
look for one, and if it does not come I begin to think there
is something wrong with the “Mail arraingement.”
I should liked to have cautiously stepped behind you
and you lady companion when you were writing those
letters to those two soldiers, if I am not mistaken she
wrote to a soldier in Co. D. did she not. There is some
fair lady in Hillsdale that has of late exercised a great
moral influence over a certain Non Commissioned Officer
in Co. D. I cannot, with propriety, give you his name at
present, he is a particular friend of mine and a fine
fellow. The letter addressed to the tallest soldier
in Co. D. was not received by the proper person, I’E not the
talest soldier, and the lady that wrote it has lost all
her concentrated thoughts in vain, trying to win the smiles
and graces of a man who after years of toil and trouble
has in possession a “dear wife and children,” living
quietly at home, awaiting the return of a kind Husband
and Father. Your letter is before me and in looking it over
I see you ask me to tell you who got the letter. it was
opened by the orderly Seargent, but you will please not
say anything about it. If I mistake not there are
some letters sent to Co. D. by Miss Anna Powers. I
do not know her, but she writes beautiful letters
as I accidently got a glimpse at one. I am allmost
tempted to ask you who wrote the letter, but I guess I will
not, as she is strange to me. I have heard the boys
talk so much about their girls at home, that I
almost immagine my self acquainted with some
of them. Those Psychology Lectures must be verry
amusing indeed, and perhaps tis just as well you
did not allow him to show you your correspondent
as you might have been frightened nearly to death
at his homely [ ? ]. I fully agree with you
regarding me comeing to Hillsdale. I should
like verry much to see you and enjoy a visit with
you, I look forward to our meeting as a verry
novel and interesting one, more so than I do to those
of my old acquaintance. My friend that went home
to Adrian, did not got to Hillsdale. I will close for this
time. In some of my letters I will send you the
likeness of a soldier friend of mine, if it will not
be contrary to your wish. Good bye and be a good
girl. write as soon as you can.
Clinton
Ettie, I have wrote this with red ink
as you will see, I had no other and
tis raining which prevents me from
going up town to get other.
