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Regiment: 8th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: Ambrose E. Burnside, William S. Rosecrans
Convalescent Hospital
4 miles S of Nicholasville Ky.
June 14 1863
Dear Mary
Imagin to yourself a large
two-story stone house facing the south with a
[ ? ]
at the front door, a long piazza in rear,
a large front yard, tastefully laid out and
flowers of most every variety in full bloom
several uncomon large locusts & other trees
of different species, in rear of said house a
large garden filled with a great variety of
fruit and vegetables fenced in by a beautiful
and luxuriant hedge, to the east imagin negro
quarters, and all around a beautifully undula-
ting landscape, blue grass here, a cultivated
field there, a grove in another direction & woods
in another. Imagin this place to be about
one mile from but in sight of the dusty “Pike” and
then you have my “Convalescent hospital.”
It is the residence of Mr. Scott. Mr. S is a short
stocky good natured old gentleman. Mrs S is
a little taller pleasant looking & quite
ladylike. Miss Fletcher their niece is a young
lady of 18 or 20 summers, black eyes and
hair, pale and quite intersting. Miss McDowell,
another niece, is on a visit here from Ohio, she
is a strong, healthy & very agreeable Hosier girl.
Miss Flether is an Orphan, she lives here, and
has a “big thing” in her own right, so I am told.
Then there are two young misses, one a daughter
of Mrs. Scott’s & a master Tom Huggins, dont
know who he is yet. This Mr. Scott is one
of four brothers all formerly living and
well to do in this neighborhood, two of his
brothers are in the rebel army. Our head-
quarters is in the house of one of his brothers –
Capt Tom Scott.
But now I am going back to Covington
& when I bring you along the way we
traveled to this place I will tell you how
I came to get here.
On the 1st of June (Monday) just as the
town bells were ringing for 12
[ ? ] nine
companies of the 8
th Cav’y left the regimental
parade ground for Hickmans Bridge
Ky. River. That afternoon we marched but
5 miles and camped for the night.
The field staff turned in at a Tavern handy
by for more convenient quarters, rest & provisions.
While here a detachment of the 9
th Mich.
Cav’y which we supposed were not to leave
to day came up & passed on this stirred the
ambition of all parties & the Col. ordered that
the regt. move at 12 o’c at night.
Guards were established around camp with
instructions not to pass any one without the
countersign. Just before duck Edward Whalen
of Co. G. attempted to pass, was halted three
times but did not stop when the guard
fired on him killing him instantly. This
sad event produced no small excitement.
The boy who shot him belonged to the
same company & said he did not think
his piece was loaded. He was doing
his duty at any rate. Still it was sad under
the circumstances. That night the man
who shot the other deserted & has not been
seen since. Some of the men were so
angry that they threatened to kill him.
My wagon not coming up with the others I
thought it must have gone on ahead or
taken the wrong road. Sent on ahead & found
it with two others 8 miles ahead. one wagon
with Co. property, tents feed &c came back.
Thinking it was best to look after my things
& not caring to sleep under cover I saddled
up & overtook my wagon
[ ? ] a nice
little lake a short distance beyond
about 9 o’c the men were all sound asleep
except the guard. Woke them up & gave them
a good scolding for going on ahead of train.
They said they supposed we would certainly
march that far first day. I thought so to but
it was no excuse for them. Turned Billy
my horse out to grass & myself under a
shelter tent & was soon sound asleep.
You know I left Huggins to come along
with the other detachment & had with men
Cook Goodale & Brown. Cook my acting
Com. Sergt. Goodale & Brown issueing clerks. The
latter is my sort of body guard also, looks
after my horse, traps &c He is the son
of the lady I boarded with. He has wanted
2
to go into the army for some time but being
so young, only 16, his parents prevented it.
I was going to take him as my servant
at first but finally he enlisted & is now
in my departiment & waits on me & Uncle
Sam at same time. I like him well so far.
His mother would not let him go except
with me & put him in my care & had much
to say about it. She has a daughter at school
she is very anxious I should see &c. But
to the narrative.
About 3 o’c the regt. came up with us
watered here & moved on about a mile for
breakfast. At noon we halted at
Crittenden about 22 miles from Covington.
Here the ladies came out & distributed
a large number of bouquets among the
officers &c nearly every one getting a sweet
reminder of their patiriotism. They also
brough provisions to the boys when they
had encamped. The field & staff took
dinner at a fine residence near by.
At 3 o’c broke camp again & moved on to
Squire Lucas’ place & went into camp about
7 o’c This is two miles from Williamstown
at which place the 9
th were just going into
camp. Here water was scarce, the man
secesh, had been arrested & obliged to give
bonds. His folks did not treat us
[ ? ],
hardly, but got the Field & Staff supper.
I slept with the Chaplain that night in Lucas’
house. We were all well terid having marched
35 miles. Woke at 4 next morning & saw
the rear of the 9
th passing. They are determined
to beat us down. We did not leave
’till after 7 o’c We marched this day to
Little Eagle River & encamped for the night.
The Little & Big Eagle Rivers not far apart
are the only rivers we have seen since
starting. Here the Field & Staff as usual
hunted out the nearest house & put up for the
night but I slept under a shelter tent.
Next day broke camp about 5 o’c & moved
on to Lexington, reaching said place
about 6 o’c P.M. & went into camp on the
fair ground. Found myself with a headache
&some fever but had too much to do to give
up to it. The Lt. Col. had his tent pitched & I
slept with him. The rest of F & Staff sought out
some residence near by. Next morning I drew
& issued two days rations to men. At
1 o’c broke camp & marched to Nicholasville
& halted for the night. The Col. sent me to
a fine residence near by to see if they could
accommodate the Field & S. They consented &
we went – found things very fine there.
Next morning moved on to within about
one mile of Hickmans Bridge & encamped
using a rebel captains house for head quarters
His nigger women still living in & around it.
But now to go back a little. These Ky. turn-
pikes are most beautiful roads. constructed
by corporations same as our plank roads. The
[ ? ] is about 4 cents per mile.
This side of the Big Eagle the country is
rolling in a fine state of cultivation & most
delightful to look upon. Around Lexington
is called the garden of Ky. & certainly what I
saw of it looked like one immense garden.
I would her remarks like these “no more
Michigan for me when this war is over,”
“Give me a farm here & I am satisfied” &c
There is one desideratum in Ky. water. It is
hard to fine & poor when found, you seldom
see a running brook. Nearly every farmer
has his artificial pond mad by hooking
up a hill side or diggin down & walling of
the sides. These place catch & hold the
surface water from rains, but you can
imagan what kind of water it is. The wells
however are good. The fences are mostly
stone. Locuts seem to be indigenous to this
state. We stoped at a number of
families on the way for lunch &c to
accommodate the Col. If it had not been
for him I do not think the F & Staff would
have put up nightly in private quarters, but
it gave me an opportunity to see the folks
of the country. The Col. would get very
tired but rode in the front all the way
& is well & hearty now, he is standing it
wonderfully.
After being sick at head qrs. several days
my fever was broken up & I thought if I
3
thought if I could get where more could be
found to eat & more quiet it would be well
for me. Capt. Wells who had previously sec-
ured me some milk & butter said he had a
distant relative about 3 miles off one of the
wealthiest men in the county, who lived high
&c, &c, & where he though I could go. For heavens
sake write & note & find out said I he wrote
& a favorable answer came so day before
yesterday in the P.M. an ambulance brought
Col. Stockton, Capt. & myself to this place. They
left after tea & I remain in my glory.
The Col. has been very kind to me, found a
chicken & some eggs some where also some some
native grape wine.
Last evening Huggins came over to tell me
that the regt. had marching orders & were
going to Mt. Sterling about 40 miles East of
Lexington at once – that is 9 co’s of them.
They went & I could not go to sleep ’till after 1 o’c
reggretting so at being obliged to remain behind.
This A.M. Kobt. came over. He says the
balance of the regt. go to-morrow. that our
Col. is now acting Brig. Genl. I think
I can ride horseback to-morrow, if not I
can go in ambulance or remain here as
they urge me to & overtake the regt.
I am now feeling right strong again but
shall take good care of myself. You see
I tell you folks all about it & if you
are foolish enough to worry & fret I shall
not let you know I have been sick
until I get well.
There is some sense in such a letter
as you wrote me last – a fellow can read it
& feel that he has read something & got some
intelligence.
I never heard of our being Rosecrans body-
guard but there was some talk of our being
Genl. Burnside’s. Yes, give me all the won-
derful things you hear about Miss E. & myself.
Am sorry to hear what you say about Julia.
Certainly her looks do not indicate a speedy
dissolution. Have not recd. Janes’
long letter but have that one from her,
Amelia & Frank.
Am glad to receive papers so regular
from home. They are but two days old
when they reach me here.
Last night recd a letter from mother
posted the 10
th & one from father posted the
11
th also one from him of May 30. shall reply
as soon as possible.
Tell Aunt Ellen I shall write her before long.
Remember me to Miss Randolph & tell her that
I recd only her last short note.
Kind regards to all my friends.
Love to all the family – how I would like
to drop in among you this beautiful Sabbath
morning. The weather has been thus far
unusally cool for Ky. I have not suffered
from heat yet. The nights a generally cool
here they tell me.
Write often
Your aff brother
Watson
