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Regiment: 22nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
This is What I fite fore if I live the stars and the stripes
November 17, 1861
Hilton Head, SC
Co. E 8th Regiment
Dear Wife
I received your letter the 14th and it found me in good health Deare Wife I am about over my lameness and I am a anm once more and I hav received three letters from you since I left and G W Shook has received also three from his wife he goot one from his wife the same day that I did Washington is the tuffest soldier that thare is in our company he looks first rate The Capton likes him first rate the curnell putt him Boss Butcher for regament thare ar too more But G W Shook is the boss of them He sends his love to his wife if she is here yet and John Shook to all the rest of you to Hee has butcherd fore cattle this morning for us and that makes his days work fore to day Dear Wife I rote to you the 7th of this month and I enclosed 15 dollars in Treshery Notes fore you and Wash sent the same to his wife and he Directed it to William Harris to Rondout thinking that his wife had gon from here so he told him to send it to his wife to whare she was It was on the 7th of this month when took this Place it is a strong forte and the Bay is about three mles a crost and the Reabels had Big guns on the other side of this forte to It is a heal they Place here a long with cee shore here this is an Island 10 miles long and 5 wide the Reables faught like the Deavels but thay could not stand the shell and the shoot from the gun boats tahy commenced at 10 ‘clock on the 7th of this month and it lasted untill 3 in the afternoon and then the Reabels retreated an left on a Doubel quick and thay left some of thare dead on the ground Iaing without Berying them and Som of thare wounded to We took them and put them in the hospatle some of them is dead the Reabels lost about 200 and our gun Boats lost about 40 kild and wounded in all I must tell you of our pasage here on the sterner Vanderbilt We had a very ruff time in coming here thare was one Boat lost cald the govanor thare was 500 Picket mareans a Board of her when she went down she lost 20 of the men and the rest was pickt up buy one of the other Boats We was out on picket yesterd and night Before last But we did not see any Reabesl on the rout We don’t now weather we shall stay on this iseland or not this winter So we cant tell you I must come to a close soon I want you to give my respects to Jacob Shook and his wife and tell him theat this is in the land of cotton ware the sweete Potatoes grows in plenty and oranges to grows here to and the weather is warm here now as it is in Michigan in September or Augest Last night it was quite cool Wash is a going to rite to his wife and direct it to Rondout to his sister and have her send it to his wife He goot to leters from his sister when he goot the last one from his wife and to day he goot another one from Rondout He is a going to rite to his wife and Direct it to Rondout and let his sister send it on to her whare she is He sends his love to you all noe more at presant Deare Wife give the Baby a kiss fore me and Abys Adue from youre Faith Full Husband W Painter
Direct youre letter to Hilton Head South Carolina
Give my love to Walter and his wife Rite us as soons as you geet this
