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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp 3rd Mich Cavy
Corinth Miss
Dec. 11th 1863
Aunt Sophia
Yours of the 29
th Ult came safely to hand night before last and found me in the
enjoyment of my usual good health and glad to hear from my friends as soldiers always
are. We have had very busy times here for the last half month. Have had lots of scouthing
and plenty of fighting. Have been ambused by the rebels and no one killed and have
ambused them in retaliation and made a good many of them bite the dust. I think
they will tire of bush-whacking the 3
rd Mich for we are perfectly at home at that kind of
warfare and the rebs always come out second best in any affair of that kind with us.
Indeed so accustomed are we to that style of fighting that we might not inappropriately be
called the 3
rd Mich Bush-whackers. As a specimen of what we can do one day while we
were on our last scout Co C was in advance and we captured twenty three prisoners their
arms horses and equipments and our company has but thirty four men out. That is what I
call a pretty good days work for one company at bushwhacking. If every company in the
service could do as well there would be no rebels left to fight.
I suppose I might go on and write you an extended description of our last scout which
lasted fifteen days and no doubt it would prove of interest to you but I get tired writing
the same thing so many times as I have to do when I tell the same story so many times. I
will make a proposition to you if you want to know about these things. You wait about
nine months and come and visit wife and me in Michigan and I will let you read my diary
and relate stories of the war until you are tired of hearing them. What marvelous tales of
thrilling adventures and hair breadth escapes we soldiers can tell. And what gaping
staring open mouthed crowds will stand by and listen. Oh wont I tell some big stories
though. Shouldn’t wonder if I stretched the truth some when talking to some of these
white feathered chaps who hadn’t courage enough to go to war and see for themselves but
of course when talking to my friends I would not do anything of the kind. These is no
branch of the service in which a soldier sees so many exciting scenes or encounters so
many adventures as in the cavalry. Nothing can be more exciting than a chase after
guerrillas or vice versa having the enemy chase you through the woods and fields. I have
been in both positions more than once. I have seen times when I more than expected to
fall into the rebs hands but fortune favors the brave and believing discretion the better
part of valor I ran away.
Your Nephew O.W. Rowland
