The following letter was written by Watson Asbury Cleveland (1837-1915), the son of Josiah Douglas Cleveland (1792-1851) and Lucy Bryan (1794-1873) on Masonville, New York. He wrote the letter to his brother, William Bryan Cleveland (1820-1883).

Watson resided in Berrien county, Michigan, when he enlisted on 28 July 1861 as a private in Co. B, 6th Michigan Infantry. He mustered out of the regiment on 23 August 1864 at Kalamazoo, Michigan. At the time this letter was written in May 1864, during the Red River Campaign, the few remaining members of the original regiment (just 160 men and officers) were converted into the 6th Michigan Heavy Artillery and posted at Port Hudson, Louisiana. In June 1864, the regiment moved from Port Hudson to Morganza, Louisiana.

Watson was married to Jennie Atkinson of Sycamore, Illinois, in December 1867. They settled with other members of the religious sect known as the “Christophers” near Abilene, Kansas in 1872.

[Note: This letter was provided for transcription and publication on Spared & Shared by Denise Hill, a descendant relative of the author.]

Transcription

Port Hudson [Louisiana]
May 6, 1864

Wm. B. Cleveland Esq.
My dear Brother,

As I have a few spare moments, I will write you a few lines. Everything is busy and excitement here today. The Regiment is under marching orders and expected to have left at eight o’clock, but it is now near noon and we have not left yet. The Hospital is to be broken up and the sick sent to the City. I shall join the company and take my gun. We are ordered first to Morganza Bend (a small place on the river near the mouth of Red River) where as I understand there to be an expedition fitted out to go up Red River commanded by [Brig.] General [Edward] Canby.

My health is quite good and I think that I shall be able to stand a jaunt as well as the best of them. Give my love to mother and the rest of the friends. Please write often and direct as before. Truly yours, — W. A. Cleveland