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Regiment: 8th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp 8th Mich.
Before Petersburg Dec. 8th ’64
Dear Cousin Mariette
Your letter of November 3rd. just came to hand. I just received a letter from
Sarah with yours enclosed. It did not reach Oak Grove ‘tlll the 1st of
December, it must have met with a long delay somewhere on the road.
When I wrote you I did not much expect that you could leave home
on so short a notice. I was at home just two weeks, had a tip top good
visit. It did me more good than all the medecine would that I could have
taken. I am gettin tough and as hearty as a bear. Uncle Sam don’t feed
me quite enough, but I can supply the deficiency by buying of the comissary.
I never saw the time before since I have been in the service that I could
eat all of my rations.
I had a good time on the rode coming from home. I was six
days coming. I left home the 16th of November. We are now in front of
Petersburg occupying the lines we took the 17th & 18th of June. I suppose it
is the worst place in the whole line. Our pickets and the Rebs are in some
places only about fifteen rods apart. They are in plain talking distance,
but if a man shows his head on either side he may expect to hear a whiz-
sing around it directly. So they of necessity have to “lay low”. I have
not been on picket nor shot a gun since I have been a Soldier.”ha!” you say
do you? “A brave youth in the rear.” I have been on detail since the fifth
of May. It is much easier than to have to carry a gun, but I don’t know how
soon I shall go to the regiment. I got a letter from Clarry last week. The
folks were well. Perry Rowley, she wrote, was dead. Lovell was intending
to go to the Commercial College in Detroit this winter. We are having some
very fine weather here, not a flake of snow yet. Had a little rain yester_
day and last night but it has cleared off cool and pleasant this morning.
Circumstances indicate that there will soon be another effort made
on the South Siderode to take it before long. The Sixth Corps
have come up from deep bottom and quite a heavy detail is made from the
2nd, 5th, and 9th Corps to send around that way. I am afraid they will
find it too stronglyfortified to take. –By by–
Except of many well wishes give a few to those two nice young ladies
you spoke of and don’t forget to remember to write often to your Cousin
M. H. Southwick.
