Webster, Timothy O. – Piece of Flag

Michigan Civil War Collection Miscellaneous Items


Click here for this soldier’s biography: https://micivilwar.com/authors/webster-timothy-o/
Regiment: 24th Michigan Infantry This is a piece of the 24th Michigan Infantry battle flag from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania that was shot to pieces and divided up among the soldiers. This particular piece was sent home by Timothy O. Webster in a letter dated February 17, 1864.  The above image is a photocopy of the letter with its transcription below.
Culpeper Va Feb 17th 1864 My Dear Wife and children I will improve the present oppotunity in writing a few lines to you to let you know that I am well bodily and spiritualy and I hope this will find you the same I have just recived two months pay and I supposed you are short and I make no delay in sending it to you in cair of Mr Brokway you will find twenty six dollars in his cair & take it and make your [ ? ] compartable as posible I think probably that we will be paid the next two months pay in march, I hope you will answer this as soon as you can make it convinient I have not heard from you since I wrote last and send Josephs picture I wrote for a fiew part stamps the [ ? ] day has paid me for all [ ? ] I will not send for it for my self in particular but I raised a little expendiry money with it and probably will make a little more. I hav made me a good [ ? ] watch in the way of trade it stands me nothing out of pocket. I hav got another good watch to sell as trade and there is another one tha I sold for fifteen dollars on trust he will probably pay it or part the next pay day. I hav made the last 3 months nearly as mutch as my wages extra to you see I hav had a chance to [ ? ] well when it could be got. if I could buy 11 hundred dollars worth of second hand watches in detroit I could make about a hundred and fifty dollars on them out here [ ? ] the last I heard from [ ? ] she was sick I hope she has got well I hope wish I could be with you all. I am happy now but if I could be with you all I should be twice happy [ ? ] and more than that. [ ? ] we must live in hopes prospects is [ ? ] I am not discoura- ged yet, [ ? ] children I think of you every day and you dont no how mutch good it does me to learn that you are good children and improving so fast [ ? ] I live to return home to you again I will reward you well for it yes and I [ ? ] as mutch indebted to mah for her clost watch and per[ ? ] manner in which she has trained you from day to day. May God bless you and his spirit continauly [ ? ] with you and [ ? ] your strength and support throu gh all your trials and troubles of life it is verry cold and windy to day my hands get numb verry often and as I shall hav to be in some hurry to get this [obscured by piece of flag] I will begin to [obscured by piece of flag] love [obscured by piece of flag] and [obscured by piece of flag] my [obscured by piece of flag] [obscured by piece of flag] like [obscured by piece of flag] from [obscured by piece of flag] news to write a present so I will close by bidding you good by for this time I remain your true and afectionate husband and father T. O. Webster this is a piece of our [ ? ] [heavily crossed out] flag