The following letter was written by 36 year-old Elkins Babbitt (1826-1862), a private in Co. G, 11th Michigan Infantry. Elkins was the son of John Mendell Babbitt (1785-1840) and Orra Asenath Carpenter (1796-1864) of Monroe county, New York. He was married to Rosalia Young (1832-1911) in January 1853 in Trowbridge, Allegan county, Michigan, where he was engaged in farming prior to his enlistment. The couple had at least three children when he left to join the regiment.

We learn from Elkins’ letter that he had been sick for some time with “bilious pneumonia” and though he expressed optimism for his recovery in this letter to a friend named Stanley C. Foster (1832-1903), he must have had a relapse for he died ten days later. Stanley was a farmer in Trowbridge who also came to the Michigan from New York State.

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Camp Morton [near Bardstown, Nelson county, Kentucky]
March 8th 1862

Friend Stanley,

I am glad of this opportunity of writing to you. You may wonder at this expression. I will tell you why I do. On the 13th of last month I came into the hospital. The next day I had to give and go to bed and I have not been outdoors till yesterday. I have had what they call the bilious pneumonia. It is a hard disease. There has a great many died with the same disease. I never took so much powerful medicine in my life before and never was so poor as I am now. I thought of home as much as twice I will bet and all of you when in the most pain but I kept up good courage. When I was the worst, my waiter told me I was in a fair way to go to the orchard—that is, to the bone yard. I told him if he said that again, I would kick his arse. I would not let him take care of me any longer. Now I am getting along quite smart. I get up the most of the time and have been out of doors twice this morning. I think that I shall get right along now. Since I have been sick, I have wrote two letters to Rosalia and it tired me all out. I did not tell her how bad I had been and I don’t want you to. It would not do her any good. It would only make her feel bad. I shall write to her tomorrow and tell her a good story.

When I got your father’s letter, I was on my back and was not able to read it. Still it done me lots of good just then. I have received a letter from you and two from Rosalia. I was almost overjoyed to get so many letters from hime at that time when I felt so bad.

Our regiment has moved from here and have gone about twenty-five miles. They left the sick till we got able to move. They have gone to guard railroad bridges and towns. We as a regiment have the best name in regard to being civil and not stealing of any regiment that ever came into Kentucky. That is all we ever shall do is to be held as guards and that will not be long. I think it is the opinion of all the people and officers and the papers that the war will not last more than two months at the outside. The rebels do not half fight. They are good on retreat. Yes, first rate to run.

I am sorry that there is so many that are so willing to meddle with our business and try to make so much disturbance as some of them devils so. I think the best way is to not mind them at all. When I get back, I will give them fits on the other hand. I never shall forget your kindness to me and my family. When I was sick and could not sleep, I thought that you might see them and give a cheering word. Chick, you can imagine my feelings then when I could not sit up one month and I do hope you never will by experience. But now the worst is over with and I shall soon be all right again. And if they much out of me, I will lose my guess. Well, I must close for this time and bid you goodbye once more. — I remain your friend till death — Elkins Babbett

[to] S. C. Foster