The following letter was written by John L. Dippy (1843-1864) of Co. H, 23rd Michigan Infantry. John enlisted at Antrim, Michigan, on 12 August 1862. He was killed in the fighting near Stone Mountain, Georgia, on 25 September 1864.
John was the son of John and Louisa (Pitts) Dippy of Bennington, Shiawassee, Michigan.
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Bowling Green, Kentucky
December 21, 1862
Friend Henry,
Once more I take my pen in hand to pen a few lines to you. I am not very well today but am on guard. We have to stand guard very often as our company is a good many of them sick and we have a large guard. We are guarding the railroad bridge and expect an attack from Old Morgan. He is said to be close here. We have been digging entrenchments and building breastworks around the bridge for about two weeks.
The news came in yesterday that Richmond was taken. This morning it was confirmed by telegraph. It is hopeful that this is true but I am afraid not.
We got some new guns yesterday. They are Springfield [Model 42] muskets. [They] carry an ounce ball and three buck shot. I think we can slay the Rebels with these if we get a chance. 1
I haven’t heard from you in over three weeks. Neither have we heard from home. Tell Aunt Angeline that I shall have to quit writing if I don’t get any letters but I expect there is a good many letters delayed that we don’t get. We haven’t got our pay yet though we are not suffering for money as we have plenty to eat. We have a sutler so that we can draw tickets and pay him when we get our pay. He charges very high for things. I haven’t run in debt any yet and don’t intend to.
George and me together kept ten dollars of our first pay and lent eight of that and used the rest to get some gloves for winter. This I think is doing very well. It doesn’t do a man any good to spend money in the army as things are very high and the doctors say the cakes and candy do the men more hurt than good.
I hope that I will see you all before long again but maybe not if we have an attack here. I will stand my chance to never see you although my health has been very good since I enlisted.
If McClellan has got Richmond, I think the fighting is about done. If Morgan makes an attack here, we will have lots of news to write for I think we will whip him. When you get these few lines of scribbling, please write me a good long letter. This from your friend, — J. L. Dippy
To H. Vanfleet
1 The regiment initially carried “Austrian” or Prussian Model 1809 muskets which had been converted to percussion firing. Since Dippy claims the new weapons fired a buck and ball, they must have been the Model 1842 smoothbore Springfield musket.
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