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Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned: Todd’s Tavern, Virginia; Wilderness, Virginia
Historical Figures: Hugh J. Kilpatrick, Jefferson Davis, Philip H. Sheridan, Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman
Seventh Mich Cav.
Camp near Petersburg Va
Sunday May 7th 65
Dear people at home
A beautiful morning this –
the weather was exceedingly
warm
yesterday – the hotest of the season – so
far = thanks to the cool breeze that
fans us poor fellows this morning.
When I wrote you last – Expected
that we would leave here – in
this = but it seems that Sheridan
got permission to recruit up his
command 10 days – before starting
for Washington – and now we
will probably leave here in a
couple of days = it will take us
about a week to march through
I understand that the advance
of
Killpatricks cavalry came
into
Petersburg yesterday –
When we all get to
Washington – the
armies of
Grant +
Sherman – are
to appear in one grand review –
it will be the largest thing of the
kind – that modern – military history
can boast of – Oh! how much I
would give – could you all see
it. This review – I understand will
take place about the 21st of May
After this I suppose we are to
be mustered out = with patience will
I abide the time – yet how anxious
I am getting for it – After all finale
statements are made out – it is
then but a short job – to muster out
It only took about 5 minutes to put
me in the army – and the same
length of time, will take me out
We are now encamped near the
main route to Richmond – hope
they will march us through it
and I think they will –R – is 22 miles
from here
Yesterday the long looked fer
and very welcome letter from
home came duly at hand –
two of them one from Bro “Joe Ting”
and Helen and Rauie sent me
a Short one – by W
[ ? ] I was so
glad that you were all well =
and happy to hear that fruit
bids so fair = now Joe invent some
means to stay the
[ ? ] of Jack
Frost or any other man = that con-
templates evil tards your fruit
How are Straw – berries?
Do you realise that the War
is over? we do – why we lay
around camp like a pack
of
Indians just before pay day
nothing much to do. but to con-
template the future – and laugh
at the past – The bands are play
ing – in every direction – and
joy reigns amongst us
Our horses have all the hay +
grain – that they can lay too – my
“Jeff” is getting fat again – has
shed his
coate and looks sleek
Our sick list is small – not much
sickness now – it won’t pay – you know
Frank + myself are both writing
in our little hut among the
bushes –
West comes up two or
three times a day – and we have
our little lemon ade – and other tings
I ate supper with West last night
had buck wheat pancakes – butter
beef steak – coffee – bread cheese
Yesterday we had a
shad made
us two splendid meals –
shad are
splendid – One year ago yesterday
and today – we fought at
Todd’s Tavern – in the Wilderness
I would like to capture old
Jeff
and get $100000 – We get good water
by going a long way after it –
All is quiet – don’t hear a gun – over
a day – it seems remarkably funny
not to hear them. Dont be alarmed about
Bushwackers – nor fur bad results to
me from them – Dinah has come with
my clean clothes – so you will have
to wait a while untill I change for
the better – Bud –
