This Michigan home front letter came to me for transcription, author unknown, but I have been able to attribute it to Emily Arletta Fitch (1838-1921), the daughter of Nelson Fitch (1806-1871) and Arletta Richmond (1819-1883) of Grand Rapids, Kent county, Michigan.

Emily wrote the letter to her younger brother, Morris Emerson Fitch (1842-1863) who enlisted when he was 18 in Co. D, 2nd Michigan Cavalry. He was promoted from a private to a corporal in March 1863. Unfortunately, Morris never returned home to Michigan. He received a gunshot wound in the gut in a fight near Brentwood, Tennessee and died shortly after of his wounds in the General Hospital at Franklin, Tennessee on 26 March 1863.

In researching Morris, I found that a couple dozen of his letters written during the war to his parents are archived at the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. The catalogue describes the collection as follows:

About 25 letters written to the home folks, while he was serving in Company D, 2nd Michigan Cavalry (1861-1863). He describes the arsenal at Benton Barracks, Mo.; the Missouri shore line from the boat as they start south; and a march through a swamp in rain and mud. They camp near New Madrid, Mo., and he tells of the Negro contrabands that came into camp. On the boat trip from New Madrid to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., he describes the river and places along the way, and the flood at Mound City. They go through hilly country where the soil is poor but the water good. He tells of scouting, skirmishing, foraging for food and the seizing of cattle, horses and mules. (“Peck has a hen tied by the leg to his bunk that supplies him with a fresh egg everyday.”) They bury dead horses in a battlefield. They ride through beautiful mountain country, and destroy railroad bridges and cars and cut telegraph lines to disrupt communication. They capture a rebel force and its supplies that was guarding a railroad bridge. On the march through Booneville they go through many little deserted villages. There is a description of Corinth, Miss. and of a visit to a theater in Louisville to see the play “The Working Girl’s Dream.” The 2nd Michigan Cavalry and the Iowa 2nd Cavalry are “boon companions” in skirmishes and sharp fighting. 

He comments on criticisms of General McClellan and General Burnside; on the Emancipation Proclamation; on Negroes as soldiers and workmen; on the Soldiers’ Aid Society and what happens to boxes of food sent to the soldiers in hospitals.

Fitch, of Grand Rapids, Mich., was wounded in action at Corinth, Tenn., Sept 17, 1862. He was made corporal on March 1, 1863, but died of wounds received in action at Brentwood, Tenn., March 25, 1863. 

The collection also includes letters from several other soldiers, all from Kent County, Mich.: 

Jesse Coon. Three letters, two of which were written to Morris Fitch. He describes the camp and their shanties at Camp Michigan. He mentioned an “ineffective reconnaissance;” a grand review at Bailey’s Cross Road; seeing General Richardson; and a visit to Mount Vernon. Coon enlisted in Company K, 3rd Michigan Infantry, May 13, 1861. Reported missing in action at Fair Oaks, Va., May 31, 1862, he returned to the regiment December 28. On May 3, 1863 he was killed in action at Chancellorsville, Va. 

Albert Graves. A letter to Morris Fitch tells of seeing men from home who are in other regiments. He entered Company B, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics as sergeant September 17, 1861, and was discharged for disability at Murfreesboro, Tenn. May 11, 1863. 

W[ade] P[osey] Hurd. One letter (Aug. 31, 1862) from W. P. Hurd, a member of the 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Battalion Artillery Reserve. 

John Lynch. Four letters written while he was serving in Company F, 2nd Michigan Cavalry (1862-1864). The letters tell of the death of Morris Fitch. He also comments on John Morgan. There is a very good description of the journey from Grand Rapids to St. Louis, Mo., and the reception by the town folks all along the way. Lynch was killed by bushwhackers while scouting near Cleveland, Tenn., April 2, 1864. 

Daniel R. Sheiler. Three letters (June 10 and July 28, 1863, and Mar. 20, 1865) from Sheiler, who served in the 14th Army Corps Inspector General’s Office.”

Transcription

Grand Rapids [Michigan]
Thursday evening, April 24th 1862

Dear Brother Morris,

We received your long looked for and very welcome letter day before yesterday with the money in it all safe. I am sorry you are not near an Express Office. It would be so much less trouble to send it by express.

I have been over to Mr. Hards today. Went over last night to stay with Ruth who is home now. I helped her make a black silk dress she has got for herself. Itis very nice. She is coming over here tomorrow. She is going to commence her school next Monday. Going to teach in Baxter’s neighborhood. R[ ] has not received a letter from any of us since she has been in Lawrence. When she wrote her last letter, she was almost homesick.

There hasn’t any of us received a letter from Wade since the Battle at Pittsburg Landing [Shiloh] and Mr. Hard’s folks are getting quite alarmed about him. Mr. [Jehiel Hawley] Hard says if he does not hear something by next week, he shall write to Mendenhall, the commander of the Battery he is in. The Mendenhall Battery was engaged in the fight, so we read in the papers.

I got a letter from [Jesse] Coon the same time yours came. He was in front of Yorktown expecting a battle any moment. He inquired particularly about you.

Mr. Per Lee met with a severe accident Monday evening about five o’clock. He borrowed our wagon to go to the City, had good luck going, but coming back the oxen got frightened at a dog, run, tipped the wagon bottom side up, he fell out, of course, and the edge of the wagon box hit his hip and injured it badly, but not so badly but what he will recover in time. He had a heavy load in. The accident happened by Mr. Kinneys there by the turn near the crossing across the marsh. We knew nothing of it until Tuesday morning when <r. Kinney brought him home on a bed in a wagon. The family were very much alarmed because he did not come home Monday night as they expected and sent Thad Tubs who happened to be there after him early Tuesday morning. He found him at Kinney’s, &c. Our wagon was all strung to pieces.

Old Mrs. Powers has gone away from home. No one knows where. Has been gone a week. Mike has looked for her everywhere but cannot find her. He thinks she has gone to Detroit. He thinks she will be back soon enough.

Friday eve. John Lynch came in just here and I had to stop writing and listen to him. He says Mrs. Powers is to Pete Lynche’s. She has been to Kalamazoo and come back again. A good many people think she is insane and I think so. She has tried to make way with herself two or three times since the old gentleman died by drowning but would get caught at it or get sick of the job. She tried to drown herself in F__acy’s Lake once but the water was so cold she got sick of the job and waded out. She was covered with mud from head to heels and the fun of it was she went to Slade’s & old Mother Slade had to clean er. Mike does not seem to care much fuss as [ ] she would stay away as not, but I guess he went after her today.

Ruth & Bettie have been over here today. We had a good visit. We all talked of you & Ruth said she wished you were here this very minute. She looked at your picture and I shan’t tell what she did. She wrote you a letter two weeks ago. If you do not get it, she will write you again soon. Marie Sythe has been here and made a visit of about ten days. We had a good time, I tell you. Martha is here now and is going to stay a while. I do not know how long. Marie has taken a school for this summer in ____land.

Since I wrote you last, Uncle Sol’s folks have had a sugar party. I went [and] had a first rate time, & a very sweet one. We all are a good lot for you. You were spoken of often and many a wish was made that you might be with us to partake…

We have had another letter from Uncle Daniel. He is near or in Murfreesboro. Has been promoted to clerk of Gen. Garfield’s staff, one of four regiments. He had the preference. He feels well, I tell you. Morris, you must save enough money to keep you comfortable. Do not scrimp yourself. Be sure and put on the number of our Box 949. Then it will not be opened by any else. We hear of fighting going on near Memphis preparatory to an attack on that place. Of course we look with anxiety the issue. May God protect you & guard you from all harm is always the prayer of your loving sister, — Em

What became of your other horse? We have heard by the way of [ ] that John is better so he will either get a discharge or a furlough and come home. We were all so glad to hear he was better. I hope your good resolutions remain unbroken and you will come back to us the same Morris you were when you went away.