Harrisons Landing August first 1862 My own dear Mary No one can tell what morrow will bring forth. So I will improve the present. I am thankful that I have a little news to write by it you can see the vigilance of our great Commander. A little past midnight we were some what startled by shell and shot dropping promiscuously from some unseen quarter among us.
Burns, Robert – August 1, 1862
Detroit Aug 1, 62 My dear Brother I have just received yours. I will send the paper as soon as I return to Paw Paw to-morrow. We shall go into camp here about the 15th
Potter, Charles H. – July 29, 1862
Head Quarters 1st Batt. 2nd M.C. Camp Near Riongi Miss. July 20 ‘62 Mr. Potter Dear Sir: Permit me to drop you a few lines while I am granted the opportunity I have nothing new as regards any more fights or skirmishes here to relate you. We did however move out very early yesterday morning with the expectations of having a battle but after a dusty & wearisome journey of some 30 miles in scouring the country we finally came to the conclusion that we leave disappointed more expectations.
Clark, Gardner B. – July 29, 1862
Camp near Harrisons Landing July 29th 1862 My Own Mary. I will have to ask you to over look my negligence in not writing to you oftener. One great reason why I have not written is. I have nothing interesting to write. except the truth, and that I will not write. “for love nor money,” And I venture the assertion. that there is not ten men in this whole Grand Army. will do it.
Clark, Gardner B. – July 28, 1862
Moretown July 28th 1862 Dear Gardner and Mary Yours of the 21 was gladly rec’d I had got very impatient and nervous now I must scold you for you are very naughty and if you live to have children grow up and leave father and mother almost alone
Burns, Robert – July 27, 1862
Paw Paw July 27, 1862 My dear Davidson Yours of 20th with enclosed certificate received. It was such a letter as I or any one else, like to receive. I am glad to hear that you are so much enjoying yourself.
Benton, Thomas H. – July 26, 1862
Camp opposite Fredericksburg, Va. July 26th, 1862 Dear Father: I received your letter last night and was glad to hear that all were well. We are still in this camp but still expecting every day to leave. There are now two regiments of our brigade out on the advance. They went out day before yesterday.
Settle, John F. – July 23, 1862
Camp Clear Crick Aima, Miss July 23rd 1862 Dear Brother Yours of June 22 was was reseived in due time but owing to warm weather rather more to laziness than any thing else I have neglect to ansor it untill now.
Benton, Thomas H. – July 18, 1862
Opposite Fredericksburg, Va. July 18th 1862 Dear Sister: I received your letter this evening and was very much pleased to hear from you. I hasten to answer your letter for fear I shall not have another opportunity of doing so. We are ready to march at any moment, and when we start this time it is on to Richmond.
Burns, Robert – July 15, 1862
Paw Paw July 15, 1862 My dear Davidson Yours of 11th I have. As appearances are at present I shall enter the army. I have agreed to go in with Melchor as his 1st Lieut. You know what sort of a man he is.
Clark, Gardner B. – July 13, 1862
Harrison Landing Va July 13th 1862 My Mary, Yours of the 6th I received this morning and two or three beside I believe since writing you.
Painter, William – July 13, 1862
Nashville Tennessee July 13 Dear Wife As I was writing to Abby I thought I would like to writ a few lines to you to let you know that am Still Well and I assure you that I wash much obliged to Abby for writing to me You must Must give her my Sincere thanks for I always like to hear from home Some times when I am lonesom it makes a man feel as if hee had some one to care for him
Winchell, Edward A. – July 12, 1862
Camp near Harrison’s Landing 12 July 1862 Dear Uncle I suppose you have been wondering why I did not write and if you have not heard from me before this wondering if I was taken prisoner or shot but thank God neither has happened but I must confess one time I thought of getting down by the side of the road and letting secesh take me but on second thought I determined to stick by the regiment let what would come.
Wilson, George W. – July 8, 1862
Head Quarters 3d Div 3d Corps July 9th 1862 General Orders No 27 Brave Comrades as one or your Generals who has shared in your perils so I sympathize in your cheer for Victory. When I pass, the name of this Division is marked Southern Records are full of you. In attack you have driven them.
Bass, William W. – July 6, 1862
July the 6 1862 Dear friend I received leather yesteday it was dated April the 16 it had ben back in in a nuther company I often think of you I shood like to be with you to day and go to meatin with you we have no preatching hare now righs influence but a good [ ? ] I heard of your sister death before I left Michigan I was sory to hear it
Everett, Robert A. – July 6, 1862
Head Quarters 5” Regt Mich Inft. Near James River July 6” 1862. My Dear Parents I wrote you a few lines by yesterdays mail to let you know that I was still among the living On the 27” of last month we lay encamped near the battle field of “Fair Oaks” I was taken sick with a little billions attack caused by the diet and living in a swamp
Clark, Gardner B. – July 5, 1862
Camp near City Point Va July 5th 1862 My Own Mary. Many and varied are the scenes I have passed through since the sun dawned on the morning of Thursday the 26th of June.
Winchell, Edward A. – July 5, 1862
Camp Second Michigan July 5, 1862 Dear Add, I am safe. I have not time to say much only that I am well and I got through all right and a tough time we had of it. We had to fight every day for Kearny’s Division covered the retreat. We had to carry 150 rounds of cartridges to last us through.
Byrns, William – July 5, 1862
Harrisons Bar: James River July 5, 1862 My own dear Florence, No one unless initiated as we are can comprehend all the various perplexities which arise, when one attempts to write. When I try to look over the events of the past 10 days I can hardly realize that we have passed through such a terrible scene.
Cleaveland, Ezra N. – July 4, 1862
Jaxon, July 4th /62 Friend Emeline. This is the second letter that I have writen to you and have, as yet recived no answer, but perhaps the first one was [ ? ] so I will write again hopeing to hear from you soo. This will see is the fourth day of July, and it is warm enough to bake bread in the rays of the sun.
Franklin, Elbridge – July 4, 1862
Baltimore Md July 4th 1862 Dear Father.. The 86th anniversary of our National Independence, the Fourth of July has come but to me it is a gloomy 4th such as I never have before spent + such as I hope never to spend again. I cannot complain of my own situation
Benton, Thomas H. – July 2, 1862
Opposite Fredericksburg, Va. July 2nd 1862 Dear Sister: I should have answered your letter sometime ago, but as I wrote to father every week I knew you heard from him where and how I was. And I do not have time and opportunity of writing letters that a person does at home. We have been here now upwards of three weeks, and I cannot tell how much longer we will stay here.
Foreman, James A. – June 27, 1862
Friday evening June 27th Dear Dollie What a long weary ten months I have passed in the army ten months ago to day our regiment was sworn into the service far three years I was fool enough then to believe that secession would soon be played out
Franklin, Luther – June 26, 1862
Camp near Fair Oak Thursday June 26th /62 Dear Parents it is now all quiet in front of us at present our Regt is out + has been since yesterday morning Yesterday there was some hard fighting in front of us