The following letter was written by Pvt. Samuel Dowell (1838-1862) of Co. G, 3rd Michigan Infantry (1st Organization). This regiment was mustered into service on 21 May 1861 and served in McDowell’s Army of Northeastern Virginia until August 1861 and then was attached to Richardson’s Brigade, Heintzelman’s Division, Army of the Potomac.

Samuel was the son of Charles Dowell (1799-1871) and Elizabeth Pool (1797-1860) of Windsor, Eaton county, Michigan. Samuel was killed at the Battle of Seven Pines on 31 May 1862.

Samuel wrote the letter to a dear friend whose name was probably Amelia. There was an Amelia Lewis (1839-1892), the daughter of Joseph P. Lewis of the same home town—Windsor, Michigan—who never married. Perhaps Samuel wrote to her.

Transcription

Fort Richardson
Northeast Virginia
September 25, 1861

Dear friend,

I take this present time to write a few lines to you to let you know that I am well at this present time and hoping that these few lines will find you in the same state of health at this time and are enjoying yourself well.

I received your letter and was glad to hear from you once more. We are having good times here now and lots of fun and not much fighting. We have lots of music here. They are having a good time a dancing tonight. I am sorry that I did offend you in the last letter that I wrote to you. But you must excuse me for I was so sick that I did not know what I did [write] in the letter at that time.

No more at present. I send my best respects to you and to all enquiring friends and neighbors, — S. Dowell

The Young Soldier Dream
Amelia don’t secede

Kiss me Amelia ere I go
Armed and drilled to meet the foe;
Gun in hand and on my back
A sixteen pounder haversack.
I go, my country calls—adieu
To battle, my darling girl, be true
And come success comes scathe and need
Amelia, Amelia, don’t secede

When on the tented field perhaps
With rations short and shorter naps
With wheel present, advance, retreat
Thou’lt have O heavens at thy feet
Some are persuadingly present
Himself and an establishment
Amelia, no such trifler heed
Though the glitter’t secede

Cling unto thy mother dear
Let no home guards come a near
Dancing [  ] for the eyes
Making light of household ties
Prating of thy woman’s rights
Gallanting thee about o’night
Lest the rose should prove a weed
Basely crimsoned don’t secede

Goodbye Amelia, no regrets
If from balls and bayonets
From trials and battles
Far deadlier is the soup tureen
When badly seasoned than the bare
Of the loudest cannon that can roar
Safe delivery swiftly
Back to ease and the will fly
United then in word and deed
Amelia, dear, we’ll both secede

— S. Dowell

Prayer of the Young Soldier

[ ] of mercy, hear my prayers
Preserve my husband’s life
Cast o’er him thy protecting shield
In this unhallowed strife
Oh guard him in the battlefield
Unscathed through wars alarms
Restore him to his happy home
And his fond parents’ arms.

But if it be thy will, oh God
To take the life that gave
Then let him die where the stars and stripes
O’er his head shall ever wave.
If it be thy will in his country’s cause
My husband should lose his life
If fatherless he his only child
Widowed his wretched wife

Then let his name on history’s page
Be enrolled with the free and the brave
Let him nobly die a hero’s death
And rest in a hero’s grave.

— S. Dowell