Olive C Ormsby
Friday Eve
Dear Mother
I received your letter and now for an answer. that letter I wrote that I said I was going to be a Preacher. I was only a fooling & had never thought of it since. No Preaching for me if I knew enough as to being stuffed by Nesley or any one Els is not to be judged only by my own conditions. if I am happy and enjoy myself xxx way I do. I count it my privaledge. I am shure it will not hurt me if it don't better me as to what little I pay to a Preacher. I count well spent for the influence of a muiuist and church towards people and what ot keeps many from spuilling their money to the Grocuins, dancers, & xx which I think might beter be paid to some one that does some good to the public. we are not obliged to believe all any one says but we can believe the good & neglect the other. Mother if Alvin or I should happen to die while we are from home I know you would feel better if you knew we were not swianing devileiy or dishonest men, and lived a christian life. you know that there is Religion and that is the Golden Rule but we all have our choice for people here to live with. No more to night. from your faithfull son and well wishes.
Edwin
To Olive C Ormsby
1st Detmnt Mich Engrs
Stevenson Ala July 4th 1864
Dear Father, Mother & Sisters
I wish you all a Happy foruth of July. We have been having a big celebration here to day for we have the tools to do it with at the expense of Uncle Sam. We had the raising of a Big Flag this morning and then Saluted. & e & e we also had excelent speaking by two coloreds from Grudicen one state treasurer and others. this afternoon we have had larger shooting all the afternoon with two Reglorf or a prize. Charlie Griffent beat the whole concern. up went three cheers for old Derefield and Charlie. they cant set Derefield behind the denk yet. My health is getting quite good again. I hope you are all well at home. I have not heard from Allie since he went to Georgia but hope he is well and I shall hear from him soon. I wrote him a letter today. I hear the Ormsby tribe have nearly all left Derefield what is that for. Father I want you to send me the best gold pen you can buy in Adrian, get a desk pen with a box to keep it in. dont send me a silver case pen for they sam get Brooke send me a large pen for I am doing lots of writing. I am Company clerk now. it is late and I have not time to write further to night. write me all the particulars about the 4th and everything that is going on there write as often as you can for you know I think a good deal of my relatives and like to hear from you all often. I hope to hear of some great victory amfaver today. May God Bless our Nation and army.
from your affectioniate Son & Brother
ED S Ormsby
Sergt Co L 1st M Erne
P.S. Father by the middle of next month I want you to send me a statement of all my indeptedness so I will know how much I owe by the next pay. I think I can balance accounts with the world then.
Edwin
Det 1st Mich Enges
Stevenson Ala Oct 4th 1864
Dear Father
As my days work is done and its not quite bedtime I will write you a few lines. my health is good again. I hope you are all well. I have heard nothing from your ay since the 18th of last month. I am quite anxious to hear from you. I heard from Brother Allie since they left Cartersville Oa. Ginl Thomas has fifty thousand troops between here and Nashville it rains very hard every day. I think the Tenissee River will be so high that Forrest and Whater cant cross back. He will have to skediko some where Thomas will tree him. Tho passed here the other day and he had an old Army hat & coat on & looked like some Private. He will turn around and talk to a Private as quick again as he will to an officer. He is that kind of a man to be an officer. He goes looking about as rough and unconserned about his dress as you do. I hope he will wind up the Guvillas in Tenn we had two car loads of mail go to Chattawoga yesterday and expect some of it back here tonight. The mail left here for Nashville to night on the regular train.. So I think you will get your mail all right. We are doing Pickett Duty here yet and no prospects of leaving or of ever getting our pay. The boys are about crazy to get pay again. We have been on about half rations for the last 15 or 20 days our men think its pretty hard fare to have to work stand Pickett Guard Block Horese & half rations and no pay all together its pretty rough.
Father have you heard anything about Peace propasitions from Jeff and what do you think of it. What is your opinion of the war anyway and how do you think the Elections will change the program and what way will it bring us what we need to put down this rebellion. can we put it down by fighting or has there got to be a compromise in some way. I want your oppinion on things for we get nothing but the opinion of Soldiers here. and the papers are so full of politics that theyare crazy. the opinion of a Northern man is what we would like now or rather I will time it as the people say the opinion of a man from Gods land. The people down this way say the North is gods land and the south then must be the oposite.
Election is near at hand. how the time flies. Some of your Northern men must be nearly crazy. let me have a history of things. I am not there to hear you talk nor see you play chess therefore you must write. I am actg on duty now and hardly get time to eat. how is your Business this fall and is there lots of fruit & plenty of Apple Bbls how is uncle Selah, Calvin, Alvin & etc well Father the mail has just come and a Big one to but no letter for Ed this tme that is rather tuff. but I am able to stand it. I have never got the pen you sent me yet. I might better had it sent by mail. it is a raining hard and I must go to bed. write soon. love to all. from your son
Edwin
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