This letter was written by Charles Thompson (1842-1904) of Port Huron, St. Clair county, Michigan, who enlisted at age 19 as a corporal in Co. A, 7th Michigan Infantry. On 1 July 1862 he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and on 6 May 1864 during the battle of the Wilderness, he was wounded and mustered out of the service on 5 October 1864. After the war he resided in Georgia for a time.

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Camp Benton [near Edward’s Ferry on Potomac River]
January 14th 1862

Friend Marshal,

Your letter was received some time ago & the only excuse I have for not answering it is “business”—as usual rather poor excuse for me. I will try & not have it occur again. You have likely seen Capt. [Charles J.] Hunt. Do you have all the news. I was out looking at a Secesh battery on the other side of the river—one they have completed & they were at work all of Sunday on the other. You could see them quite plain with a glass from where we were. Their battery is near Ball’s Bluff. I guess it is to command the ferry “Edwards.”

They will have to vacate it before long for there are four 20-pound rifled cannon gone up there. I think there will be an advance movement made before long. Everything is ready for it. The whole army is lying idle except the one in South Carolina. They seem to be doing something. There is some talk of our Division going South but I do not believe it.

You had better enlist & come down with Capt. Hunt. You need not tell “Ettie” and it will be all right. “By the way,” how do you and “Ettie” get along? As well as ever? Now Marshal, take a fool’s advice & leave the girls alone.

There is no news of any importance so I will have to close, Give my respects to all the boys. Ed[mond] Fetchet & Bill Strout send their best respects. Write soon & believe me your friend, — Charlie Thompson

P. S. I am not coming home till the war is over. Ed is not going in February. — C. T.