Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/winchell-edward-a/
Regiment: 2nd Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Little Rock, Ark. May 17
th 1865
Dear Brother Add,
What do you think? Have I not come far enough from home for the present?
I think so at any rate. When I started I did not intend coming in this direction at all
but as the company that I was with started the same day that we arrived in St.
Louis, I was obliged to do so for I did not have enough money to lay over a week in
St. Louis which I would have had to do if I had laid over.
We did not go through Chicago as I expected to do. We laid over at Lake
Station thirty-five miles from Chicago and then took the cars for Joliet (I do not
know how to spell that word) where we arrived at about eight o’clock. We stopped
there one hour and then started for St. Louis and arrived there about ten o’clock
the next morning. We remained in St. Louis until four P.M. and then started down
the river for Memphis. We laid over at Cairo about two hours and arrived at
Memphis Friday evening and stopped there until Saturday evening and then started
For Little Rock. We went up the White River as far as Duvall’s Bluff which is three
hundred and eighty six miles from Memphis. From there about ten o’clock Monday
morning.
At present I am working in the Quartermaster Department at forty-five
Dollars per month and am having very light work. When we was on our way to
Little Rock I had an idea that is was a little nice mud hole like most of the Southern
cities but upon our arrival there was very agreeable appointments. There are some
large brick stores and some splendid dwelling houses and eight or ten streets
running each way. I have not been around much so I can’t describe the place to you.
It is about as warm here as it is in Detroit July or August but I can stand
warm weather first rate. It seems to agree with me very well.
Little rock is between fourteen and fifteen hundred miles from Detroit and it
only cost me three dollars to come the whole way. Pretty cheap travelling wasn’t it?
I have been told that we will be paid every month. If so, I will send some to
you the first opportunity. I have some work to do so I can not write anymore at
present but will write again soon.
Give my love to all of the folks – Mother, Mary and Charley and remember
me to Lizzie.
From your affectionate Brother,
Ed A. Winchell
P.S. Direct to Little Rock, Ark. And please write soon without fail.
