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.

This Michigan home front letter was probably written by 18 year-old Matilda L. Brott who was the only “Matilda B.” in the 1860 US Census in Grattan, Kent county, Michigan, where she was employed as a “domestic” in the Joshua Howell household. She was married in May 1869 to George W. Fralick (1847-1876) who served in Co. B, 10th Michigan Cavalry during the Civil War.

Matilda wrote the letter to her former school teacher, Lt. Asa Walker Slayton (1830-1907), the son of Russell Slayton (1798-1863) and Bethena Clark (1803-1877) of Grattan. Asa served as a 2nd Lieutenant in Co. B, 25th Michigan Infantry.

Transcription

Grattan, [Michigan]
October 22nd 1862

Far Distant though well remembered friend Asa,

With much pleasure I take this opportunity of intruding, if intrusion you would call it, upon the peace & quietude that you may be enjoying when you receive this, to let you know that I still remember those who have gone forth in that noble cause—the defense of our just & righteous government. And as you are far from home, I thought perhaps you might welcome this little message in friendship from a scholar. For that title I should prefer to all others. Although properly speaking I am not. But shall ever regard you as a Teacher and shall ever thank you for the instruction that I have received from you. And with this introduction, I will proceed.

We are all well at present and I sincerely hope that these few imperfect lines may find you enjoying the same blessing of health. I pity the poor soldier, far away from home who does not enjoy that blessing.

There is a great deal of excitement about the war around here at present. But not many enlisting now. Drafting commences in two weeks from today. I am afraid we shall see harder times when it comes to drafting than we have yet. But our country’s call must be obliged or it will not be long that we can call her Our Country. And I am glad that she has so many noble sons to send to its rescue. And I feel it an honor to call those my friends who have gone in her defense. And hope to be regarded as a friend by them.

Sometimes we hear news that encourages us & gives us some hope. And then again we hear very discouraging news. It seems very lonely in Grattan now. But the less there is left, the greater sacrifice we feel that we have made and feel proud of the representatives that she has sent forth to help quell this awful rebellion. And trusting in God, we believe that e’er long, we shall welcome them home again to our now lonely firesides and the dear homes they have left far behind with the many sacrifices they have made to obey their county’s loud call.

We know that it is hard to part with friends that we have spent the youthful part of our lives in our own quiet and peaceful homes with nothing to molest our happiness. But if our Government goes down, what is there that is not lost and gone with it? What more have we to hope for seeing all is gone? Our homes would be ours no longer to welcome you back to. I have often wished I might never live to see the agonies of my country begin. But now I only wish I were of more service to my country. And if my words of encouragement were any good, freely would I give them.

I feel that we all have an interest in the cause of Liberty. And who cannot feel interested in it. I think of you all very often. Those with whom I have passed many happy hours, yes and years of my girlhood. For we have been schoolmates together. But there is no choice. All must go. We cannot reserve those who we rather would stay. All must be separated for a while, perhaps forever. God only knows. And He that knoweth will preserve you all. The right must prosper and be victorious, and with this hope. I feel that we shall soon welcome you all back to our homes. I hope that this same feeling may encourage the soldier to persevere till the end may come.

I suppose I must say a few words about our schools around here and the scholars in general. John Goss is going to teach the school in Mr. Holmes’s district. Jenny B. is going to teach our school. I expect to teach the school in Bickford district if I get a certificate. I dread inspection day. But all our inspectors have gone to Dixie. I don’t now but we shall have to go without inspection this fall. I wish we had.

Clara & Frank are going to school this winter. Lodeska lives at Mr. Watkins. Will go to school north this winter. Rilla is going to school & Mary Gillitt is going home to the south part of the state. Our schools will be small around here this winter.

But as it is getting late and is the night previous to the departure of the mail and I shall have the letters all to mail yet, I will close with the few imperfect lines and not intrude upon the quietude you may be enjoying when you receive this. Think of us scholars often. So goodbye. Write soon and remember me at your writing desk. I remain as ever a friend. From a far distant but not unmindful although unworthy friend and well wisher, — Matilda B.