Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/vanvalkenburgh-george-w/
Regiment: 23rd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Tues. Aug 4th 62
Dear wife it being a rainey
day I thought I would rite a few lines to you and let
you know that I was well
and I was glad to here that
you and the baby was well
you spoke of coming home but
I want you to make a good
visit this time fore you will
not have a chance to go home
again in a good while I am
a doeing as well as I can without
you I am makeing calculations
to live when you do come home
I picked a pail full of currants
and got 15 lbs of sugar and
took them down to Mrs. gidley
and had it made into jell
and we are making calculations
on the black berries I shall
have some jam made and shall
dry some There is worlds of them
this summer well that
is not all that I have made a week
ago last Sunday it was pretey
lonesom and so I went down
to the ashrey and started
a fire and made a barrel of
as nice sope as you ever see
That was because it was done on
sunday I suppose Mr. and Mrs. Seelye are both sick he is flat
on his back, she is up around
the house That is all the
new I have to tell except
Mrs. Eastman is going to have
another little one your mother
sent me some good advice
and I am mutch obliged
to for it but it will not
do in this country for
here it is every man for
him self she said I must
do as I would like to be done
by we can’t live here by
that rule we must do to
others as others do to use and
then we are all right for
I have made up my mind
that this is no place for a
honest man to live he will
always be poor it has stoped
raining now and I must stop
writing so I will bid you good
by give my best respects to
all the old friends, this is from
George Van
