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Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp of the Third Michigan Cavalry
Jackson Tenn
March 21
st 1863
Aunt Sophia:
I received a very welcome letter from you a few days ago and I suppose I ought to
have answered it before this but a week is not a very long delay and so I propose to
devote a few leisure moments to writing and you shall be the favored recipient of my
scribblings are be called a favor. Well aunt since I began this letter I have been having
fun. I had just got to writing when our Lieut came in and proposed to pitch a game of
quoits? and so I went and had a good time and now it is candle light and I propose to
write a few more lines. Maybe I shall finish it to night and maybe not. Just as the
[ ? ]
holds out you know. To tell the truth
[ ? ] life is so dull and wears such an aspect of
sameness that there is but very little to form the subject of a correspondence and if my
letters do not prove to be very interesting, why then chary it to the scarcity of writing
material and to my natural inability to write interesting letters. We are none of us to
blame for what nature has done for us nor what she has not done. But enough of this. I
have accomplished my object viz: to fill up this page and so will change the subject.
I must tell you what you have already surmised that I am in the enjoyment of good health
as usual. I most summarily hope that this will find you all in the enjoyment the same.
The friends in Michigan were all well at the latest accounts. My wife and sister are both
attending school as you have doubtless heard before this time. They like the school very
well and seem to be very much interested in it.
I declare Aunt it is a positive fact that the inspiration has thus “done played out” and I
guess I will wait until tomorrow morning.
March 25
th 1863
You will no doubt be surprised when you read the closing portion of this letter which was
commenced by your Nephew Oran. Just not finished by him. He was to have completed
in the morning of the 22
nd but was prevented from doing so by an order which came from
the Company to move at daylight with 5 days rations. So he dispatched me to do it for
him as he did not meant it to lay until return for there was no knowing how long it
would remain here and he told me to state whys and wherefores and mail it for him as I
belong to his
[ ? ] told him. Should he
[ ? ] and now I have done so much
towards it.
There was dispatch came in from the company and he was well as when he lef
camp. The company is stationed at a small place called Mifflin about 20 mles from this
place. A report has reached here today that there is some
[ ? ] out there. If so he
will have his share of
[ ? ] from his Aunt as he calls it.
But as I perhaps shall not be able to interest you I will close and mail the letter
hoping that you will take no exception to this I subscribe myself yours with respect
[ ? ] D. Orinsby
Vie Oran W. Rowland
