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Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: George B. McClellan
Camp Scott near Yorktown Tuesday 22 April 1862
I commenced this letter last Saturday but have not had a chance to finish it until
now. Sunday we had to go on fatigue. It rained real hard all day but that made no
difference. We had to shovel all day so at night I like the rest of the boys were
soaking wet and to top it off we had to go out on picket at four o’clock Monday
morning. It rained hard a good whole of the day and the night so you see we had
quite a pleasant time of it for a couple days.
Tomorrow morning at 6 o’clock the regiment has to go on fatigue so you see that we
do not have much time to spare between picket and fatigue duty at present but I
suppose after the battle of Yorktown we will have a little spare time that is those
that do not get shot and I guess those that are shot will have a resting spell. My
opinion of it is that McClellan will make a big haul but if he does I suppose the
Advertiser will keep blowing at McC the same as usual. If the editor
was down here his life would not be worth two cents. I suppose Uncle is down on
McC the same as a good many others but if them kind of people were
down here they might be learnt a good deal by the privates.
They commence blowing whenever we have a storm. Now if they had to sleep
outdoors with the wet ground in under them and nothing but a small india rubber
blanket over them with rain pelting through wetting them to the skin and
getting up in the morning and have four hard crackers for twenty four
hours (when we ought to have ten) and no meat nor coffee and have to wade
through the mud knee deep and very cold water at that. You may think it is not
very cold this time of year as far south as we are but the last storm we had it
snowed. I do think if they had all those hardships to endure they would not have
quite so much to say about McC and his Masterly inactivity.
The Advertiser has more to about McC and is trying harder to get
him turned out of office than any other paper and I tell you that the Editor of the
Advertiser and all that have anything to do with it is cursed by every soldier that
reads it. I do not get them myself but I see John Martin’s once in a while.
I have received two Mercurys since I have been here and they ought to be one or two
due me now. I don’t know what I do not received them. I have received three letters
from you, one from Mary, and one from Mother since I have been here and will
answer them as soon as possible. This will not be a very interesting letter but it is the
I can produce at the time. Give my love to all the folks.
Ed A. Winchell
