The following letter was written by Dewitt Clinton Abell (1840-1903), the son of Lewis H. Abell (1804-1845) and Mary P. Dennison (1805-1888) of Battle Creek, Michigan. Dewitt wrote the letter to Charlotte (“Lottie”) Marie Culver (1845-1919) with whom he would marry in March 1863.

Dewitt enlisted at Burlington, Michigan, on 5 September 1861 to serve as a private in Co. M, 2nd Michigan Cavalry. He was discharged for disability on 22 August 1862 at St. Louis, Missouri.

Dewitt’s letter was datelined from the camp of the 2nd Michigan Cavalry posted just three and a half miles from rebel-occupied Corinth, some two weeks after the Battle of Farmington (which took place on 9 May 1862) and only a week before Beauregard decided to evacuate the besieged city. Dewitt’s letter enclosed a song sheet entitled “We Have Lived & Loved Together.”

Transcription

Camp at Farmington
3.5 miles from Corinth [Mississippi]
May 22, 1862

Dear friend Lottie,

I must commence this letter by begging your pardon for not answering yours of the 23rd of February & I know when you think how unhandy it is sitting on the ground with my paper spread on my knapsack, poor pen, and poorer ink to write with, that you will excuse me for not writing before.

Back again from a scout. I knew this morning when I commenced this letter that something would turn up before I finished it & sure enough there did for I had not written but a few lines before the commissary [sergeant] came to me to help him draw ten days rations & before that was done with we was ordered to saddle up for a scout. We was just getting ready to eat dinner when the order came but were not allowed to stay and eat it.

Only three days ago we was ordered to go out on a scout (of two hours) without our breakfast, and did not get back until dark. If we did not pay particular attention to the pancakes and meat, then I am no judge. But of all the scouting we have done, we have not had any severe engagement. Our company has not lost a man only by sickness, The foul hand of disease has taken four from our company to their last resting place.

I wish you could have happened in about five minutes ago. I had a first rate dinner composed of mashed potatoes (the first for two weeks) & pancakes. I think it would looked comical to you to see me sitting on the ground, my plate sitting on the ground before me like a pig eating corn. But enough of this.

I suppose you would like to have me write some news so here goes. In the first place, we are camped 3.5 miles from Corinth where the Rebels have 135,000 men (so it is reported) & we hope here it is so for there there will be more prisoners taken when we get ready to take them & that we mean to do before long. It is reported that we have over 200,000 men here. Deserters come into our camp almost every day. They all say that there is one Louisiana, two Arkansas, and one Tennessee Regiment that they have to keep them guarded from deserting. Day before yesterday they sent back 30 prisoners which they took at the battle here on the 9th. They could not keep them because they had not enough for their own men to eat. The deserters say they are kept on half rations. If such is the case, we will starve them out which I think they are trying to do for we have got them almost surrounded.

Well, Lot, I will have to stop for this time. Save a piece of the wedding cake for me. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends. Please answer soon. Yours with respect, — D. C. Abell