Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/simmons-william/
Regiment: 16th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
[United States Flag]
“And the Star Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave,
O’er the land of the Free, and the home of the Brave.”
1861
Halls Hill Virginia Dec. 15
My Dear Ellen
it is with pleasure I take my
pen in hand to write a few
lines to you to let you know
that I am well hoping
these few lines may find
you the same I received
your letter on the 14
th Inst
and was very glad to hear
from you I left Mr Blackmer
on the 24
th of august and
went to Detroit and staid
there until the 17
th of Sept.
and then I started for
Washington and when I
got there I saw the Cap-
ital and the presidents house
and the arsenal where they
keep all their guns and
every thing for war I like
it here first rate for we have
plenty of soft bread and beef
to eat and good coffee to drink
we sleep in tents and we raise
them up on blocks and bank it
up with dirt and we have a stove
in every tent there is twelve ofers
sleeps in each tent and we sleep
on cedar brush which we call
Virginia feathers we drill five
days in the week and on saturday
we have to clean up for sunday
and every sunday morning they
inspect all our clothes and our
guns to see if we have lost any
thing and to see that we have
plenty of ammunition I would
like it very much if I could
send you my likeness for a
Christmas present but I can-
not do it because I cannot
get any money till after New
Years but when I get some
money if I can get a pass
to go to the City I will
have it taken and send
it to you I just got home
last night from being out on
picket and I am on guards
to day so I have not much
time to write I have been put
in another company so you
will have to direct your
letter a little different direct
it to Wm Simmons Care
of Capt Elliott Co E Stockton
Mich Regt Washington
D. C.
from your best friend
Wm Simmons
write soon
Good Bye
