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Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp 2nd Michigan, Lebanon, Kentucky April 26th, 1863
Dear Mother,
I received your kind letter several days ago but I have not been able to
answer it until now on account of sickness. I have been troubled a great deal lately
by an ulcerated tooth and having no opportunity to have it taken out, I have been
obliged to stand it. Last week my face swelled up so that it closed one of my eyes and
the doctor thought that it would break on the outside but as good luck would have
it, it broke on the inside and now the swelling is about down. I intend to go to town
as soon as I can get a pass and have the ugly thing out.
I received a box from uncle Geiger several days ago (the first one that I have
been able to receive). It contained lots of good things such as us soldiers do not have
every day. I was glad to get it but I would not send any more if I was in their or your
place because there is so many lost that it hardly pays.
I have received letters from Uncle Ed, Uncle Geiger, Mary, William &
Christian. Since I haven’t wrote any I intend to answer them as soon as I can.
We have had a good time since we came to Kentucky. The weather has been
find and warm most of the time and they have good roads in this state. All of the
main roads macadamized (I don’t know how to spell this word) so we don’t have
much mud to wade through as we did in Virginia.
We are encamped close to the small town of Lebanon and four are
allowed to go to town a day out of a company. We don’t have to drill very hard so I
think we have pretty good time.
Mother, you needn’t mind about making any more of those Kearney badges.
Our sutler has had some nice ones made with the figure two and Kearney’s name
stamped on them. They are painted red and look very well.
I think that we will have orders to move before long. I don’t think that if we
are to keep rebels out of the state we will remain in the center of the state. I think we
will go to Cumberland Gap or to some other place.
Tell Charley that he must write to me again, that I want to hear from him
very much. Tell Add that if he has got any old stories papers that he has read to
send me two or three for I am hard up for something to read. There is very little
reading matter in camp and what there is I have read.
Camptain Humpreys, formally of our company, has been promoted to colonel
of the regiment. He is a good soldier but I think a mean man.
Mother, enclosed you will find twelve dollars to buy you a pair of glasses
which is all that I can spare this time but next time I will be able to send you about
twice the amount and I don’t think that it will be long now before we are paid again.
Enclosed you will find some stamps for Add to send the papers with. Tell him not to
forget to send something for time hangs heavy when one has little to do.
I certainly hope that by the time this reaches you, you and Mary will both be
recovered. Give my love to all of the folks. Good Bye from your affectionate son.
Ed Winchell
