Potter, Charles H. – April 19, 1863

Michigan Civil War Collection


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/potter-charles-h/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Cavalry Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: Head Quarters Co M. 2nd Michigan Cavalry Franklin, Tennessee April 19th 1863 Dear Mother As I come in from pickett duty this morning the boys said there was six letters for me & what should I fid but one from you which I did not expect. I know well enough you would like to write evry day but I know you was not used to writing & therefore I did not expect any letter written in your own hand writing. it has done me so much good to hear from my mother I wish you would write evry day I will certainly answer evry one I could read evry word & it was good enough. I know how it is Libbie does try to bother you because you can not write but you can and I can read it first rate Libbie aught not to do so I should think she would try & help you it would please me very much I want to hear from you often & you must write to me. I received a letter from Mrs. Persival the other day & it was a good one I think a great deal of her. I cant say as there is any news the boys are all well accept Wing Agnew he is sick I am a- fraid he will not stand the hot weather this summer we are having some pretty warm at this present time. to day is a rainy one sure. we have a plenty of fighting to do now days have to go only about three miles & then we get all we want to attend to. the picketts are in sight all the time. th other night the rebs picketts came up within forty rods of our own and wrote an invitation on a piece of paper for us to come over & take dinner with them they left the paper on the mulled stock where our boys found it in the morning. Leck Darrow is bothering me so I cant hardly write I shall have to stop & choke him a little I guess. there is eight in our tent we have just got fixed up nice & now we have got to turn over these tents & draw some small ones about as large as chicken coop for two men Leck & myself will cage ourselves up together this summer they expect a big Battle at this place soon. Charly Burt is at Louisville I believe. Chan Rulfield says King Allen is in Kentucky somewhere I shall expect him down this way before long. the pay master is here & will probably pay our regiment off this week I hope so. I wish you would tell father to send me a few postage stamps the next time he writes I have not written any letter in a long time not in two weeks certain the reason is because I had no stamps & it is impossible to get them here the boys all have to send home for them. tell pa to send me four or five and when I get my pay I will send home for enough to last me three years or during the war. I did not those prisnors all together three of them one at a time & a Lieutenant & one man at another time I made the Lieut. come down with hat it was a nice one to I lost mine in running after him & I thought it no more than right for him to pay for it mine was a new one just drawed it the day before all right now. this letter must answer for all of you for I had to borrow this stamp before I could write this. I will this to a close hoping these few lines will find you all well if you are all well as my self I know there is no danger for I never was in any better health. give my love to all & write soon. good bye.          From Your Son Chas. H. Potter