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Regiment: 7th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Headquarters 7th Mich Vols
May 20, 1862
Dear Sister:
I received your letter of the 9th inst and was very happy to hear from you. It
found me in good health and enjoying myself first rate. We have done some
tough marching lately but we are a tough set of boys and we are able to stand it if
anyone is. I have got such a gay old headache now I can’t hardly see to write.
From where I am sitting now I can see three of the Tamany boys that missed
being to roll call this morning and they have been tied straddle of a pole that is
ten feet from the ground and there have to sit all day. I guess the pole will be
tired by night. They have some curious ways of punishing men. We have to turn
out now days at three o’clock in the morning. I don’t know but its all
correspensible but it goes against my stomach considerable. We have to have our
equipment all on. We are camped in a nice place now. Our camp is laid out in
regular streets and they are swept twice a day and we have got a row of bushes
stuck up each side of the street to shade us which makes the camp very pleasant.
There are three good springs close by us. I caught a large eel yesterday in a little
creek close by camp. But the best news is that Uncle
[ ? ] has taken
Richmond without losing a life but I guess he spiked all the big guns. But there is
no use of. I believe there is going to be right smart of men killed before this
Richmond is taken. We are about 20 miles from the rebel city. I wish Fred Gould
would get well and he could go up to the rebel capitol with us. I guess he would
be glad to. You spoke about me letting you know where David Farnsworth was. I
saw the Doctor that was left back with the sick at Camp Burton. The other day he
said he was in Washington and would soon be discharged. I have written to him
once but got no answer. I think he did not get my letter. I would like to be there
and have a good meal of victuals. I believe I could punish a good dinner very
easy. But says Uncle Sam, never mind your mother but go and be a soldier to
fight for the happy land of Caanan. That’s what is the matter. Write often.
Good by
From your brother, Cyril H. Tyler
P S gives my best report to Uncle Kulfe and Aunt Amy and Capt. Levell and
Seargt. Travis and theirs. Tell John that down to West Point I saw a small brake
carriage that just smited me. It was a present to a city regiment by the ladies. It
was the nicest rig that ever I saw. It was in three (S). It was drawn by men.
