Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/rowland-oran-w/
Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Lawrence April 29th 1862
My dear Patriotic little Aunt,
I should not wonder if you would be somewhat surprised to receive a letter from me
bearing the above date but nevertheless here I am and there is a very fair prospect of my
staying here for some time to come. I am home on a sick furlough. I have got the
rheumatism so that I am almost entirely helpless. Have been so for three weeks and as
yet am getting no better. I left New Madrid last Saturday morning and arrived at home
the next Wednesday afternoon. I need not tell you that I had a very hard time of it. There
was eight of our company came at the same time I did. One of them died the next day
after he got home. Poor boy he had such a hard time. Had the measles at Grand Rapids
and the Small Pox at St. Louis from the effects of which he never recovered. I suppose
our regiment is at Pittsburgh. If you want to come to visit when I am at home now is a
good time. I shall let Pa finish this letter. We are all as well as usual that all but myself.
Let us hear from you soon. Consider my letters as circulars and hand them around
among the friends and oblige your nephew Owen.
My Dear Sister
I am not going to flatter you by calling you patriotic as Oran has for I expect all my
friends are so for be sure I would not correspond with anyone that I though was not
patriotic for in other words was secesh. I went to Uncle Thomas with Nancy some
three weeks ago. I left her there she will probably start for home in a week or two. Oran
thinks he has done well in writing two pages. He had the advantage of me by writing
first. I am just as idle as can be. I never saw such dull times. I have wished a score of
times that I was where I could nurse our sick and wounded soldiers. Poor fellows it
seems too bad for them to suffer as they do. But they suffer in a good cause and we will
help them all we can. I had a letter from Cornelia a few days ago & she was blazing with
indignation against the rebel leaders & I do not blame her for I curse them from the
bottom of my heart. If Oran gets well & goes back I shall go to take care of him. That is
all.
Eber
