3rd & 5th Michigan Infantry - Twice Wounded - NEW

Item LTR-12070

Description

Original Civil War Letter, 3 pages written in period ink.



Camp near Harrison's Landing
August 1862
 
Dear friend Kate,
 
I am going to try again and see if I can provoke an answer to my letters that I wrote to you a long time ago. I begin to think that my old schoolmates have something to do at home trying to make soldiers, so they have no time to write to them that are so far off in the land of desolation. It is a great while since I have even heard a chirp from you, and you are the only one that has forgot the poor rascals that are in the army.
 
I hear that there is a great deal of excitement caused by drafting men for the army. I, for one, think it is the best thing the Lord, or anybody else, permitted to happen. It will call out some of those stay-at-home fellows that are always talking about war.
 
Henry is well and has gone out on picket with the regiment. I was on guard, the reason I did not go. They say they have gone out on Malvern Hill, where we had the big fight the first of last month, where we lay all day under the biggest artillery fire we ever saw before.
 
I heard that the 8th Michigan were at Fortress Monroe. We don't know where they are going.
 
The first time you go to town, call and see Fernando Page. He lives opposite of Mr. Carrier's, as he had both feet shot off with a shell at Yorktown. He is the best boy in our company. He can tell you something of soldiering.
 
There has been pretty heavy artillery firing this morning in the direction of Malvern Hill. I guess the Rebels are trying to drive our men off again. If they can find as warm a reception as they did before, they won't make much at it.
 
There is nothing of any consequence to write, so I will close, expecting to hear from you immediately.
 
I remain, as ever, yours, 
 
George Powers