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https://micivilwar.com/authors/woodward-william-a/
Regiment: 3rd Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
On Board Steamer West Moreland White River Arkansas May 23d 1864
Dear Louisa, As I have not had a letter from you in over 2 weeks I thought I
would try again. I wrote you at Memphis I do not know as you will get it and you
may not this. I am to begin with in good health and spirits. The rest
of the Cooper boys are on the and I have not
seen them for 3 days they are some where on the road., Hi Cornwall is well
We left St. Louis one week ago tomorrow and we expect to get to Duvals Bluff Today
and there we shall have to take it across the Country to little Rock. the weather is terrible
hot and the mosquitoes are in swarms. We have not been fired into yet but don’t know
how soon we shall be. there is no Military post between White River Past and the bluff some
200 miles. you can look on your map and see our route. We have not been paid yet and we
are all most out of money. I don’t know what I should have done had I have sent money
home. meals on the rive, 75cts and every thing in proportion. you must try and borrow
a $100 dollars if you can to pay your expenses and I will send it as soon as I get it and
it is safe it is not safe to send money from little Rock and so I guess I will not send any if
I get it, but I don’t think we shall get pay in 2 months to come I have lent some
money and have got a nice gold watch for Secarity the man pawned it in St Louis and
I paid the money and took the watch there is only one Battallion of our Regt on
this boat and one ‘Co’ of the third Regular U.S. ‘Cav’ We took on our boss veterans at
Memphis I expect about ½ of us will die drinking river water. it is some like drinking
water out of Veleys lake there is nothing very interesting about this river travelling
almost all we have just passed a house, the first one in 60 miles and the bottoms
are all over flown and is very unhealthy. White river is about 40 rods wide and very deep.
We just passed a boat that was snagged and sunk the other day. we did not run last night
we anchored in the stream. I will send this back when we get to the Bluff and will write again when we get
to the Rock. we are going to have fun in this section soon you will hear. Steele will
steal a march on the rebs as soon as he get reinforced and the troops are thronging the river
but I close this. my respects to all, my love to you and the babies this from yours ever
Wm Woodard. The jar of the boat is so great that I don’t know as you can read this.
