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Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Russell Va
7th Mich Cav
Dec the 30th 1864
Dear home and people.
Last night I received a long
letter from “Phillies” and Loraine
of Dec 23d. I was expecting one
and it came very acceptable Ill
assure you. Frank said he would
give $40.00 for a corrospondent
that would write him such long
letters. Long letters are the thing
in the Army as regards Soldiers.
Have had some severe cold weather
now the ground is froze as heard
or nearly, as hard tack. the sun
sines out clear and the wind
blows a little. very good weather
this though. My little house is comfort-
able enough. I have finished up the
sick call to day except now and
a fellow comes in and there I try
my great skill upon him. I feel
proud of the success that I have so
for had and more proud of the
good name that I have obtained
through that and other means.
If there was a vacansy of are
[ ? ]
Surg in this regiment. I have my
reason to suppose that I would be
promoted to fill the place. I am led
to think that there will be a vacancy
before long and that Geo R R. will
be Surgeon and that I &c
I wish that you would keep this
silent time enough to talk when
there is something to talk about
and now I wish that I had
kept still Dr R is a mightly fine
fellow he and I have got along
smoothly togeather. Ira Tylers John
is hurt has the piles like evry
thing. I havent seen a paper in
some time. The last news was good
From all outward appearances
I think that this Brig will
remain in the prest camps, this
Winter. The 7th has the best camp
in the whold Div. good ground for
a camp is a very disirable thing
in such a muddy country as this
The water that we use, has improvd
and as for wood dome how or
another we dont go cold any
We have two wagons with a regt
and they had all our stuff
When this war first broke out we
used to have thirty waggons to a
regt just think what a train that
would make some 1350 wagons just
with our Cav Divisions. But we alw
-ays have two wagons with a regiment
and then there is a seperate train
or trains besides. Each Brig has a
train of its own. I dont know the
exact number of wagons we have in
a Brig train now. We have just what
we can get along with and no more
Well New Years is near at hand
and I am here, not at home.
I would like very much to
be with you on that day.
I dont know when I shall
come home. some time this
winter or next Spring though.
Will get four months pay
the fore part of January.
Frank and myself are living
luxuriously just now. plenty of
fresh pork fresh beef fresh bread
green tea coffee sugar &c.
Have had several
[ ? ] of dryel
pears that the boys brought in.
Some of the boys brought in from off
the late raide 75lbs of butter and
all such luxuries. Some poor woman
is a cursing the Yanks in her prayers
Well I have broken off writing several
times and now it is nearly 2 Oclock
P.M. I am getting hungry havent ate
any dinner yet Perhaps I may write
some more after dinner “Jimmy how
near really have you got that Johnny
cake” Jimmy caries my medicine box
and at present does my cooking
We brought in some mearl and is making
a Johnny cake. I always have soda
Part Second
Evening 8 Oclock Dec 30th 64
Well I thought I would spend a
few moments more in writing
to you this time. “Sallie” I havent
been able to get that picture I
spoke about some time a go. “The
soldiers dream, on Christmass Eve”
The Dr came and got it and I
presume he has sent it to his love
You see that I dont always have a
quiet time to draw in and I dont
always feel skillful. I never neglect
my duties. my duties first and
then if I have any spare time
I spend it as I like of late I
have a large work on Surgery
that I have been reading and
few things give me more pleasure.
You all know that after a long
deliberation I have chosen Medicine
as my future work and I
feel it a duty as well as
a pleasure to gain all the
usefull knowledge upon that and
other subjects that I can my oppor-
tunities so far have been all that
any rational man could ask
I have assisted many a time in
ten to fifteen operations in a day
and I have an opportunity of
observing diseases and their treatment
Diseases of nearly all kinds are
constantly before me. I can treat
them and watch the offect
of the medicine used.
I know that the men some of
them at least, are very thankful
to me for the great assistance
that at times I have renewed
them in my line. But enough
of this Ill give away to something
else more interesting if I can
but hatch it up. We’ll see
“Frank” has just received
two letters, but lo! there are
non for “his chile” I think I
informed you
[ ? ] when I said
that I thought that we would
remain here all Winter I have
an idea that this Brig will
move camp tomorrow. or within
five days at the least. are
going back the other side of
Winchester if we do move.
Really I dont want to move
now ofter fixing up so comfort-
ably but if so I will and
if we have any chance at all
will have just us good quarters
as these in a short time It havnt
seemed any the time to me that
we would remain here all
winter If that fellow that
mother saw. “Steward 6th Mich”
was a short little sanely fellow
then I know him he used
to be steard but is not now
I believe that both of the real
stewards of that regt are at present
with the regt. I think it must
have been Havens he came out
with the 6th as Steward but he and
Surg Weir had some difficulty and
he – Havens – went to Washington and
there got detached and has been
there evry since and ofter he
was ordered to return to the regt
sevral times and did not come
he was reduced and now they
have appointed another in his
place. So Dr E is getting along
finely is he spose he uses a
pile of Powphillin Pittatum
or “Mandrake” mandrick
I think I could get a long full
as well as he with one course
One Old fellow is bound to have
me set up in Eaton Rapids
sayes that evry body is sick
there and no Dr within ten
miles. Ill have plenty of time
to think about it. Well here I
am nearly at the bottom
and I guess that you dont
care much. Write much
and often.
Bud
[On Envelope:]
Miss Loraine A Shafer
Grand Rapids
Mich
