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Regiment: 7th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
The old staff has not made his
appearance
You may want to hear
something about our journey. We started
from the depot at 8 o’clock P.M. had a sleeping
car from there to Detroit, arrived at Detroit
at midnight. and at Toledo at day light
had some hot coffee changed cars and started
at 10 o’clock A.M. arrival at Cleveland
at dusk. changed cars, and started right
off. Arrived at Pittsburg in the morning
marched to the city – hall and had
breakfast, we did not leave Pittsburg
untill 3:30 P.M and I went over the
city – the building are nearly all brick
and every house and block as black
as rot smook and coal can make
them. I should say the city – was noted
for dirty house, streets, dirty clothes
black faces, homely women, and some
of the best draught horses I ever saw
the cars are loaded with Keroscene oil
and coal, from this place to
Harrisburg, one sees hills and large
barns, we pass along and over the
Alleganies in the day time. and more
splendid scenery I never saw. on
one side is mountins upon
the other Allegany on the Junietta
river, our whistles through tunnels
a wild through port villages, rocks,
lakes, what I saw of Pensylvania I
do not like. Ohio is a better country
for farming, the land is not broken
much, but just rolling enough to
be pleasant. the trees in Ohio along
the rout are very tall, and not very
large. I saw apple trees two feet through
at Altuna Pensylvania the Colonel
got coffee or what was called coffee
at the rate of $30.00 per barrel
We arrived at Baltimore at 10 o’clock
P.M. Marched 2 miles through the
city and by the gas light I could
see that it was the finest city upon the
whole rout. I never saw a cleaner
or more regular city. the walks are
as clean as broom can make them. not
a box on a barrel could be seen on the
walks. all the streets, and walks
are stone, one passes churches
which takes three looks to see the
top. Dr Upjohn and I went in and
drank the best beer I ever tasted
we had to leave 2 sick soldiers
there, and one sick fellow deserted
there. Dr Sherman and all but
Dr Upjohn and myself stayed
there and came on yesterday
there is quite a number of sick now
I shall be glad when we get located
so as to take good care of them
We are to be paid the forepart of this
week – I cannot write about evry
thing this time, when I get settled
down I shall write again
there is a good many things to
write abot which I cannot write
about now.
You will have to direct your
letter to M.A. Shefer Hospt.
Steward 7th M.C. Washington D.C.
We do not know the name of
our camp yet for certain
One does not see nothing
but soldiers in some parts of
the city. I can look from my
sleeping room, across the Potomac
and see the old fortifications
I am writing in the dining room
on account of fire, and the whole
family are talking, so there must
be my mistakes, wood is ten dollars
a cord. Dr Sherman and Upjohn
are boarding abot 10 rods from
here. If you will Mr.
J.A. Hopkins name in connection
with E.G. Stork of Auburn N.Y.
to Dr Shepherd you will know that
I have a good place, So says Hopkins
It is 3 o’clock P.M. and dinner is nearly
ready so I will quit. Eggs are 40 cts a dozen
I got so black at Pitsburg that soap won’t
take the dirt off. Horrible
Your son
and Brother, M A Shaefer
