Tyler, Cyril H. – March 16, 1862

Michigan Civil War Collection


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/tyler-cyril-h/
Regiment: 7th Michigan Infantry Battles Mentioned: Historical Figures: Ambrose E. Burnside, George B. McClellan Camp Harpers ferry Mar 16th, 1862 Dear Father I am in Harpers ferry all right & tight & tough, having a good time there is three brigades here in town. we are quartered in houses some as nice [ ? ] as I ever saw they were evacuated by the rebels and taken possesion of by our troops, we have been up as far as Berrysville & there met the other brigades coming back said that Winchester was full of our men they left 90,000 men there. its a large place. there is four Batteries of 22 guns in all with us 3. 20. ssd.rs. six brass16 pounder rifled cannon. 4. 11. pounder howitzers 8.19. pound parrot guns. that will shoot six miles those six brass cannons are hansome & pretty well racked. they was in bulls run fight. they have 16. roves cut in them. they are deep & get an awful twist & do hansome shooting. we have done some tall marching since we left camp benton I can march just as far as any other man in a day my feet are very sore at present the last day we marched Porter gave out & as much as 1/4 of the other regts gave out & came draggling in afterwards our regt is just the toughest on the job not more than 8 or 10 giving up. our boy and the mass 20th & 19th have a good many fights they guarred all the while they killed a lot of hogs and sheep & because our boys killed a few they reported them to their Col & he to the Genl. & he came to see the col & he told him that our boys had brought no fresh meat into camp & just then in came three boys with a fat sheep they had just killed & the Genl ordered the Col to put them in irons. but he released them after the Genl had gone & [ ? ] other [ ? ] we have got new guns again this makes the fourth time, we have got the springfield rifles. the cartridges done up with a thin kind of combustible so we dont have the bight them. Just run them down and put on a cup. they are nice. the Artillery men have had orders to load their guns on board of the cars the Col. says we shall leave very soon for some place we dont know where. some say to reinforce Burnside others say we will go to Washington & cross there and go under McCllan but no tilling I wish you could see this place the senery is beautiful. there is one place called Bolivar Hights which the enemy held if they had any pluck at all. I believe if we go with any of those expeditions we will have tall fighting to do for the Genl says the western troops are much the best the eastern ones to are mostly foreigners & dont anow to much. I must close for the present, direc to Co. I. 7th Michigan Vols. 1st Brigade Segwicks Division Via Washington From your Son C. H. Tyler Co. I. 7th Mich. Vols. Write soon. Direct to Co. I. 7th Michigan Vols. 1st Brigade Sedgwicks Division via Washington