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Regiment: 1st Michigan Engineers
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: John A. Logan, William T. Sherman
Camp Near Louisville Ky June 15th 1865
From Wm Slater to Miss Ann Clark Northville
for to a muse a few moment of time I though I would
drop a few lines once more to you as I cant hear from you at
all to say wither you are living or dead but I suppose
you are all right as I be or expect so we got in to Louisville
Yesterday morning we left Washington last friday morning
and last night I got a letter from Mr. Can with two dollars
in which came very
[ ? ] I
[ ? ] a use you we have
nine months + a halfe
[ ? ] to day as far as I do understand
we will draw eigh months pay next week and then the
rumor round camp for Mexico the balance of our time
I think that they will have to be smart if they take us all and
I got a letter from Mrs. Guthrie to ask me ware John was
but I could not tell her much only ware we left him
and after wards they sent him to another hospittle in
New York but I cant learn wether it in the citty or state
he tole me that he would right home I offered him some
riting paper to take along I think if head been so pick
as he could not rite he might of get some one to rite for
him for I would rite for any one I did think he ware sent
home not fit for duty I told her that I was willing to do all
I could for her to but I cant do much by finding out such a
I blame him the most for not riting or getting some one to rite
for him then she would of none all about ware and how he was
it does not cost much to rite and let one now ware one is I take
a intrist in it to let one no ware I be and then if anyone does
ask ware the Rigement is then one can tell I think in the corse of
a few days wether I will be soon at home or not but Ann I do think
they will not take me to Texas a live it is hard work for they
men to bare about two days before we left Washington they sent
four hundred + eighty discharged to Detroit to be paid off the
one years men and there times was not hout for three months
and some as inlisted in 62 and we have to stand the lost for
it all the usage and abuse as we have got in this army is hard
for one to dissceribe I no it all but I cant rite it with a pen it to
much but I will tell you since I have been in the army I have
have wat it was to want such as I never did before I often thaned
god as my family had enough and that was halfe enough
for me and I have seen the time a good man might when
I have traveled all day in the rain and get in camp after dark
at + mihgt and fell thankfull to lay down in acorn field
with out supper and get up next morning long before day light
ring my blankets and lap them up and throw them on my
back with a wam cup of coffee and one hard tack for my
brekfast and in a raing season Lallway considered my
loat halfe as heavy as in fare time and now they do not want
to pay us for when we ware at Righley North Carolina it ware
march to Alexandria and these your paper Hall be maid
out and you shall be convayed to your expective state
and there you will be paid off and mustered out and sent
to your home that we did now you must got to Louisville K.Y
for the wetern army belongs these and then you will have
your papers and your disscharge and when we came to
Louisvilled the first thing as we so was A order to pay the army
eigh months pay and I supose that is all the discharge
as we will get for one wile now I would like to now at is the
best for me to do I have full filled my contract in every point
and I have not had to trouble the Hospittle verry much I
have been throw all the raids as as been hone since November
last and always ready both night and day and there is just
talk if this eight months pay does come and that should come
next week that most of them will rebell and if they do
[ ? ]
they army is verry hill dissatisfied is is causing a great deall of
uneasiness as one of the boats as just behind us severall of the
Soldiers could see ther homes and the officers would not let
them get off severall jumped hover board and went three of
them got Baynets stuck through them and on the boat ware
I ware on a captain of General John A Logan asked the Cap of
the boat for a state room he told him that he had not one
directly after a rebb officer as ware Prelowed asked the
Cap if he could have a state room the Cap sais yes ser
you can and some one went and told Gen Jn A Logan
and J A Logan called the Cap a son of band the
[ ? ]
began the Cap had to run and hide and he could not be
seen no more through the rout I so my selfe in Cincinetta
Cittisons taken Perowled rebb prissoners in the bakers shop
and giving them Bread that I sow my selfe done but
we did belong to the Union and we had plenty of Hard tack
as it happened Mr. Van took a notion to send me three dollars
and that was not all spent yet there for I bough my diner
on my own expence it is once in a great will as we will find
a good loyal cittison it put me to thinking and laughing
at one little village as we called at and staid a short time
I went in the house to get a drink of water she wase a jeish
woman she sais dose ye want any Pies to eat I told her ho
we ware some of shermans Bummers and we have not
had no pay for nearly ten months and all our money
ware done god bless ye man take a pie and give your mate
one halfe of it if ye have any coffee to trade but we had
tradid all our coffee the day before two of the boys stole
some pies or cakes from a small boy and when we got in
camp they ware tied up by the thumbs it is a rare chance
to find people so liberal with Shearmans raiders I do
I think I will be able to tell in the corse of a few days I under
stand the othorietes as tellegrafted to Washington to no wether
this Army shall be disscharged or not in the
[ ? ]
of Louisvill as a great many of they boys from Michigan
but I cant find non as does belong to this Rigement it
is a nise simetarry but I cant say much about the
Citty as I have not been in it yet but I can tell you
wat I have seen Harpers ferry and the Shanadore
Valley as all the talk as been so now I must
conclude by saying give my respects to all I am your
Will Wisher and treu friend William Slater
Co F First Mich Eng + Mechanicks Louisvill KY not Shearmans
army no more.
[On Envelope:]
Miss Ann Clark
Northvilled Box 181
Wayne County
Michigan
