Shafer, Marion A. – March 26, 1863

Michigan Civil War Collection


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/shafer-marion-a/
Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: Washington D.C. Thursday March 26th 63 My Dear folks at home I rec your letter of the 16th this day and it was a welcome friend indeed; here I have been a month and rec but two letters from home. I like to hear from home as often as once in a week. Any way, I have rec one letter from Martha one from Lib, But I will tell you how we stand here. The Regt rec marching orders this afternoon to be ready in a half an hour notice to moove boy and baggage. So evry man rolled his blanket up, and at dark order was given to get ready, evry one proceeded at once to get ready tents were taken down, horses saddled provision drawn. havasacks packed for 2 days tations, and at nine o’clock P.M. the Rejt was off thats what soldiers do. Dr. Upjohn Steward Smith, and Mr Meech, went with the Rejt, Dr. Sherman and Steward Shefer was, left with the hospital to awate futher orders, The hospital is cramed full tonight, nearly 30 are in it. I think we will go in about 4 or 5 days. The regt is agoing to Fairfax Court House as near as I can judge. there is fun ahead I wanted to go bad but I shall be with them in a few days. and have the day to go in besides We were ordered up last Tuesday night about 2 o,clock to be ready to march at a moments warning, the 6 left the same morning, and Col Man tried to get pirmission to day to have his Regt remain here two weeks longer. but the Gen would not hear to it, Hurah for old Reb. I want to see a dead one. The reason why all the Regts are called away is that Stewarts Cav is nob for off and the news was yesterday that the 6th had captured 800of them, buts not so, I never saw men feel as well as ours did when they were ordered to march and they all expect to have to fight. I am feeling bully, I have got a “hoos” what can run like a devil, skared at Injuns, he is Injin clean from his tail to his [ ? ] end, I run him evry day I aint afraid neither. no sir, that’s what ails the [ ? ] suck. I aint afraid much since I tended two cases of Small Pox and did not ketch it, one of themen have died. the other is in a fair way to recover. They were sent to the Rest Hsopital as soon as their diseas was discovered. I proceeded to vaccinate myself in evry available spot and good it worked in three places at once and made me sick for five days. the scabs are all dried up and tis 12 days since I was exposed to the Damn disease. It is curious that none of the rest of th ey have caught it. Powelson has had the mumps, is not well yet. Mrs P feels as gay as a lark to go It is now about 10 oclock. I will write another sheet and then go to bed. Bud