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https://micivilwar.com/authors/rowland-oran-w/
Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of the First Michigan Cavalry
Jackson Tenn
February 8th, 1863
My Dear Aunt.
I have this minute finished reading your letter of the 29
th of January and I hasten to reply to it. I
had heard of Watsons death a few days ago in a letter from Mary and my wife. I can sympathize
with the dear friends in their bereavement for I know to my sorrow what it is to have death enter
the family circle and snatch a loved one from our embrace. Of course it seems a great deal harder
to have one of our dearest friends die far away from all who loved and cherished him among
strangers but then we have the consolation of knowing that he died in a good cause. And in the
midst of affliction there is still something to be thankful for. Levi was only wounded when a
little variation of the piece that sent the deadly missile would have cost him his life. I tender you
all my heartfelt sympathies in your afflictions. But such things though they sink deep into the
heart of a soldier and cause him to mourn the loss of dear friends most forcibly remind him of the
accursed traitors who caused this ruin and desolation and nerve his heart and strengthen his hand
to strike a harder blow for freedom and liberty.
My folks are or were all well the last time I heard from them. My wife and all of the rest of my
folks have moved to Fentonville. You will please excuse me for writing so short a letter but I will
do better when I answer your promised one which must be on the way by this time. I
congratulate Cousin Delida on her entrance into the state of matrimony. May she live to see
many happy anniversaries of her wedding day is the earnest wish of her cousin
O. W. Rowland
Excuse me for not paying the postage but I am out of stamps and they cannot be obtained in this
part of the country at the present time.
O.W.R.
