Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/winchell-edward-a/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Camp Lyons Dec 6th, 1861
Dear Cousin Emma
I received your always
welcome letter two or three days since
and this is the only chance I have had
of answering it so I hope you will
excuse me. I have very little news to tell
you and in consequence it will be a
very poor letter which I am sure
is nothing new for me to write.
I am sorry but oweing to previous engage
ments I was unable to comply with
your request for company at a Thanksgiving
dinner and I hope you will excuse me on
those grounds. Em I want you to take this
advice if you ever hear your boy say any thing
about inlisting you must whip him or
if he is to smart for you why get Frank
and then if he cant handle him you will
have to send for me and I will harm
him. Dec 9
th It has been three days
and all that time I have been to
lazy to finish it. I am a writing by
candle light and my hands tremble
a good deal so I hope you will excuse my
writing. We are agoing to move in the
morning to a new camping ground
and I believe we are to build log
huts for the winter I do not know
where we are a going and consequently
can not inform you this time
writing. We are having the nicest
weather I ever saw today It was so
warm in the sun that we were glad
when we got through drilling one would
perspire just walking around I
never seen such warm weather this time
of the year before not over a week ago
it was cold and we had quite a snow
storm the snow was about a half of an
inch deep it froze all day in the
shade and now it is so warm that is
a pretty quick change I think. I suppose are glad
you dont have to do up any dinner like you
did last winter for me to go a
hunting I did not used to think
how much trouble I put you to
and then I did not ever get any thing
to pay for it but never mind
if nothing happens I will be back
some time and then you will see
what I can do in the hunting line.
Our Colonel is a geting more strict every
day if one gets a pass and happens
to stay an hour or so over time they
are put in the guard house and kept
there for a week or so and if stays
in Alexandria a little over time and
is caught he is put in the
close pen and kept for forty eight
hour on bread and water.
One of the boys just gave me a hand
full of pop corn aint it good though
Whiws. I got a pass to go to Alexandria
to day but one of the other boys got one
from the Captain and got it signed
before me and so cut it out
I am a going to get a pair of boots
for this winter and another thing I wanted
to get was a book to write down all that
has passed since I inlisted one of the
boys has got it all down and I am a
going to coppy it and afterwards I
am a going to keep account my
self.
I am going to send this letter
by a gentlemen who is a going
home so I will have to quit
for this time so Good Bye
from Ed
