The following letter was written by Theodore P. Hoyt, Jr. (b. 1844), the son of Theodore P. Hoyt, Sr. (1815-1874) and Abigail Ann Bristol (1817-1890) of Maple Rapids, Clinton county, Michigan. Theodore was 18 years old when he enlisted in July 1862 to serve as a private in Co. A, 23rd Michigan Infantry. He mustered out of the regiment on 28 June 1865 at Salisbury, North Carolina.

The 23rd Michigan participated in the Atlanta Campaign, the battles of Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville, and finally in the Campaign of the Carolinas. At Franklin, they repulsed an assault in a desperate hand to hand struggle. At Nashville, the regiment made “a daring assault the first day upon the enemy, posted behind a stone wall on a hill, carrying the position in a gallant manner and capturing more prisoners than there were men in the line of the regiment.”  At war’s end, the regiment had suffered 3 officers and 70 enlisted men killed in action or mortally wounded and 4 officers and 257 enlisted men who died of disease, for a total of 334 fatalities.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp near Columbia, Tennessee
December 26th 1864

Friend Marcus,

I seat myself for the purpose of addressing you a few words hoping that these few scattered words will find you enjoying good health as it leaves me sick a bed. We are camped just across Duck river from Columbia. We came in here this afternoon and to tell you where Old Hood and his command is, I can’t, but is somewhere in this vicinity trying to get away but don’t know which way to go. We give him one the [best] whippings that he never had before. I was in both day’s fights at Nashville and we charged their works and took them and their two artillery. We captured most all of their artillery. They was in all 61 pieces captured in all and how many prisoners I can’t tell for certain—somewhere near 15,000 killed and wounded and prisoners.

The most talk is now that the rebs are about to played [out] and that there will be peace inside of 8 months but I don’t know. But I hope so anyhow for I have had enough of it and I am tired of it already. But I han’t but 7 months from today longer to stay and then I come home and stay awhile if possible. Cornelius is all right and he and I bunk together yet. He has hone out a foraging this after[noon] to get a hog for supper.

No more at present. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends, — Theodore Hoyt

To Marcus Bentley, Esq.