Grand Rapids Dec 22/61 My own Dear One, Good Morning Gardner, how do you do this morning. It is as cold as Greenland, and for a wonder it is sunning. The last day of school, Dr. Big Swell was there.
Gaylord, Oliver C. – December 22, 1861
Dec 22nd 1861 Dearest Wife I am still at Camp Anderson as you are aware I suppose, for John Rhodes said his folks were going to be at Owosso on Tuesday last. I don’t know why they wanted me to stay here
Pointon, Mair – December 21, 1861
Headquarters 6th Wis. Regt Sunday Dec 21st/61 Dear Brother I have just received yours of 26th and was surprised to hear that I had the Measles I don’t know how Mother heard of any such thing I have not been sick with any disease since I came in the army all that I have been troubled with is sore eyes.
Foreman, James A. – December 21, 1861
Headquarters Camp Michigan Virginia Fifth Reg’t Michigan Volunteers, Comp D December 21st 1861 [ ? ] for a long time I have been thinking of writing to you but there is Li little chance or convenience to write [ ? ] my correspondence is limited to a verry small no
Perkins, John S. – December 20, 1861
Headquarters of the 6th Michigan Regiment Camp McKim Co. A Baltimore Dec. the 20th 1861 Dear Cousin Carrie I received yours of the 15 today and it is useless to say that I was just as glad as ever to hear from you and that is very glad indeed. Well Carrie, I am back in the City of Baltimore and I am none the sorry for it you may bet for I be goin to get tired of marching.
Burge, Caroden S. – December 19, 1861
Camp of Mich. 2 Dec 19 /61. Dear Mother: I fear that my delay in writing has caused you much anxiety, but since I last wrote we have changed camp twice & for the past week we have been so buisy building ourselves log houses that it has been almost impossible to write. Besides we have had no convenient place during this time.
Foreman, James A. – December 16, 1861
Headquarters Camp Michigan 5th Reg’t Michigan Volunteers, Comp D December 16 1861 Dear Dollie I believe I must write to you to day. firstly because I love to write to you. secondly because you say you love to hear from me
Clark, Gardner B. – December 15, 1861
Grand Rapids Dec 15 1861 My own Loved Gardner, It has been a beautiful day. but not a bit like any December I ever saw before. The sun has shine all day and it has been comfortably warm for the last few days. The lilac trees in our garden are all budding.
Simmons, William – December 15, 1861
1861 Halls Hill Virginia Dec. 15 My Dear Ellen it is with pleasure I take my pen in hand to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well hoping these few lines may find you the same I received your letter on the 14th Inst and was very glad to hear from you I left Mr Blackmer on the 24th of august and went to Detroit and staid there until the 17th of Sept.
Smith, Oscar – December 15, 1861
Frederick, Dec. 15th, 1861 Dear friend Eliza, I now improve the pleasant opportunity of writing a few lines to you and tell you what we are about. After a march of four days, we find ourselves in a little town by the name of Frederick in Maryland. We were removed here to supply a deficiency of soldiers and to fill out a Brigade, commanded by General Banks.
Painter, William – December 14, 1861
Beaufort Dec 14th 1861 Dear Wife Not having received any letter from you for a long time I thought I would write to you once more to let you know how we was getting along. I sent you a letter the Seventh of November with fifteen dollars in it and am quite anxious to know wether you have received it or not
Fisher, George W. – December 12, 1861
Outposts of Army of Potomac. Dec 12th 1.61 Dear Sister I now seat myself in the woods (on Picket guard) for the purpose of writing you a few lines to let you know that it is well with me here and I hope this will find you all enjoying good health
Clark, Gardner B. – December 11, 1861
Grand Rapids Dec 11/61 My own Dear Gardner, I recieved a letter and three papers from you this afternoon. I think that picture of the grand review of the troops is beautiful I would have given a great deal to have seen it. You say that December does not seem like December.
Hogmire, Mitchell H. – December 8, 1861
Arlington Dec the 8th 1861 Dear Children I embrace the present opportunity to address a few lines to you this evening finds us all well and I hope that these few lines will find you enjoying the same blessing of God we have had qute a fall of snow it commenced snowing the (23) of Nov and the snow fell. I pose about 13 inches. and it staid about 9 days and the ground is now bare and it is warm as september
Taylor, Joseph P. – December 7, 1861
Detroit Arsenal Mich: December 7th 1861. Col J. P. Taylor Com. Gen. Sules cc Washington D.C. Sir. I have the honor herewith to transmit Estimate of funds required for the purchase of Provisions for Troops stationed at this Arsenal for the 1st Qr of 1862.
Winchell, Edward A. – December 6, 1861
Camp Lyons Dec 6th, 1861 Dear Cousin Emma I received your always welcome letter two or three days since and this is the only chance I have had of answering it so I hope you will excuse me. I have very little news to tell you and in consequence it will be a very poor letter which I am sure is nothing new for me to write.
Potter, Charles H. – December 5, 1861
St. Louis MO Benton Barracks Dec 5th 1861 Dear Parents I received your letter last night with pleasure. I was very glad to hear that your are all well accept grand father and that he was getting better we are all well and in good spirits. I dont know as there is any thing new here now only that there was another man shot the other night
Albert, Benjamin F. – December 4, 1861
Headquarters Regt., Camp Co. F Stockton Munson Decem 4 1861. My Verry Dear Friend John I recieved your Kind letter las tnight was glad to get the Eckford and Albion News Also hapy to hear that you were well A blessing which I never shall enjoy again Camp life has done the business for me and is ending the Drama of life with many daily with in a few rods of where I now lay
Fisher, George W. – December 3, 1861
Camp Tillinghast V.A. Dec 3d, 1861 Dear Sister I now seat myself for the purpose of writing you, a few lines to let you know that I still live and enjoy good health. and when this reaches its destination. I hope it will find you, and all of the family, enjoying a liberal share of the same.
Foreman, James A. – December 2, 1861
Headquarters Camp Near Ft Lyon 5th Reg’t Michigan Volunteers, Comp D December 02 1861 Dear Dollie it is a little singular that my letters have not reached you. I wrote you two letters I think within a wekk but it seems that they have miscarried but perhaps they may reach you yet if not I will merely say that I expressed $15.00 to you
Carter, Walter P. – December 2, 1861
Camp Arlington Dec 2 1861 Friend Mary, I received your letter yesterday, and should have answered it last night if I had not been on guard. I shall not agree to write much of a letter this morning for I am so tired and sleepy and I can hardly think what I am trying to write about and my mind is constantly reverting to other selves which have passed and gone never to return.
Hitchcock, Eli – December 1, 1861
Camp Arlington December the 1 Headquarters 7 Reg’t. W.I Co. H Camp the 1861 Dear father and mother it is with plasure that I now set down to right a few lines to let you now that we are all at presant and hope theas few [ ? ] will find you all the same I have not much news to right
Potter, Charles H. – December 1, 1861
Camp Benton St Louis MO Dec 1st 1861 Sunday Eve Dear Parents, one & all I received two letters (this afternoon) in one and I now take the pleasure of answering the same it has been a rather sad day here to day it is all hurley burley all over the camp grounds this is a large camp ground and then is a great many men on it to there is about 200 area of land & about 20000 men
Clark, Gardner B. – November 28, 1861
Camp of Instruction Berdans U.S.S.S. Washington Nov. 28th 1861 My Own Dear Mary, Our Lieut. Col has bade us Good Bye. Whatever path he or us may hereafter persue they will probably never more intermingle.