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Regiment: 1st Michigan Engineers
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Received Feb. 24” 1864
Algoma Feb. 14th 1864
Much Loved Brother
for the first time in my life I
find myself seated pen in hand
preparing to converse with one, who
until now has always enjoyed the
blessed privileges of home As I sit
here this beautiful Sabbath morning
I wonder to myself what you are doing
O, how diferently will this blessed day
be spent from what you have been
accostomed to spend it; but so it is
and we cannot make it otherwise
we have received three letters from
you the last one bearing date of
Feb. 3d which came to hand nine
days after date I need not tell you
that we were glad to learn that
you had arrived at your destination
safly and without any serious difficulty
as far as I know The report was that
cars were all smashed to pieces
and the soldiers all killed, but that
rumor did not reach my ears until
the day that your first came to hand
tell me when you write if you did
have any accident; did you lose
any thing on your journey? I suppose
you was robbed of your fur gloves
and twenty shillings in money while
you were at the Rapids at least
that is the report We did not recev
any letter from Will last mail
Ma wrote to him a week ago and
sent him $2 dollars for he was
dead broke Mr Gross sent a box
to Henry Frank and Ruben the
boys had sent home for some
boots and Will sent for us to get
a pair and sent in the same box but
he was to late the box had gone
I felt sorry; he says the boots
that government furnishes are
not worth any thing I received
a letter from cousin Fannie the
week after you left us; she seemed
very much pleased with the picture
and she says she knew that you
would not feel rain if she said
you was the best looking, she says
you know it is the mind that makes
man not the face; they made one
100 gallons of cider last fall and
had 12 bushels of dried fruit
last sabbath evening, I had the privilege
of hearing a sermon from Bro. Mon
from these words, “be thou faithful
until death and I will give thee a
crown of life” You recolect
that Oscar Hyde had started the
day we were there for his Fathers
and a week from that time they
received a letter requesting them
to come imeadtly. he has taken
with fever and throat disease
I have heard nothing from him this
week I trust his life will be spard
Mrs Stoddard was buried last
monday The Baptists are holding
postrated meetings at Laphamville
I do not know how much has been
accomplished as I have not attended,
them in fact we have been kept busy
at home Bro. Swift has been labouring
with us for the benefit of this people
and I trust his labour has not been
in vain Mrs Rykert was the first
that manifested a dessire for salvation
Mrs Henry Gross also and a large
number of the school children All.
and Charley with the rest should the
work prove genuine I shall feel that
the Lord as not yet given this people
over to hardness of heart Na has been
quite sick for the past two weeks so
that she has kept her bed part of the
time; she was taken with chills and
as had a very hard cough the rest
of the family are usualy well You did
not say what kind of beds you have
did you draw a tick? tell us all the
particulars when you write again how
many hours you have to labour
the third Michigan cavalry
are at home on furlough they
have reinlisted for three years
Samuel Dole is at home; he drank
tea with us last evening; it has
made a man of him going to war
he is taller and straighter and a
good deal smarter and better
looking I wonder if there will be
a draft made for this last call
I don’t hear of any that are
inlisting; do you know where
Wallace is I heard he did not
go with you I presume you have
not done any washing yet Will
sent us word how he manages
he says that they cut a barrel into
and take the bottom for a tub
they made a wash board
he says they make it go first
rate; when you wash your shorts
you must not have the water
to warm and after you have
washed it you must rinse in
warm water and hang it up like
we do on our line as much as you
can so that the color out of the bosom
will not run into the shirt well I don’t
know as I have much of any thing more
to say that will interest you we miss
you very much and especialy at the
hour of prayer do we miss your
voice when we are singing the song
of praise; the prayer of my heart
is that you may be preserved
both
[ ? ] and spiritualy and
be permitted to return again to
home and dear ones there they all
join in love to you and believe
me to be your affectionate sister
Emily
P.S. We wish you may happy
returns of your birthday and
I should be happy to spend
it with you but you must
accept the will for the deed
EA. W.
