David G. Lewis to Eliza R. Lewis, 13 May 1864
Johnsons Island O May 13th 1864
 
Dear Sister Elibbie
                        My pen is again taken to answer your kind letter of May 1st.
 
And I am sorry to have neglected writing to you sooner but there is so much excitement over the war news, and every few days there is a rumor set afloat that we are ordered to the front, but thus far we have not marched.
 
I am enjoying the very best of health and hope you enjoy the same blessing
 
I suppose John & Sam are somewhere soldiering and I will guarantee they wish they never seen a Militia Company ere this time 
 
I think if there are but a few men left the girls seem to marry off nearly as fast as ever.
 
I suppose that St Albans & Harrison have turned out pretty strong for Soldiers. I wish them good yes the best of luck. I am glad they have drafted at Columbus the more they draft there the better in looking over the list of drafted I seen 18 names from franklin that I knew.
 
            I received a letter from Sister Elibbie a day or two before I received yours and Johny had written a part of it and he I think he would like very much to remain at home. Sam hired two substitutes but they each backed out so he had to go himself "At last". 
 
There are two Militia Regiments here and there are a few very tall men among them. One of them is 6 feet and 8 inches tall we have one in Company A 6. 3 or 4 inches tall the tallest and largest men are all left yet.
 
            I received a letter from Dan some time ago and I will be looking for another letter soon Hannah Williams wrote a long letter to me she writes a very good letter and I think she is trying to write very interesting and sometimes she sends me papers and a few days ago she sent me a welsh magazine She often sends me a long letter with a piece of poetry or story in it.
 
            I have dropped two correspondents and will turn it to Johny and Jane when I write to them I will send / an envelope with a stamp on it for they are in debt and I will not have it cost them but just paper & ink
 
Now the report is afloat that we leave here next Tuesday I do not know how true it is The Artillery is to leave on Monday. There is a big battle going on now in Richmond and I hope we will give old Lee a sound licking
 
I will now close my letter hoping this may find you merry as a bee and in good health
 
            Give my Love to any Friends
 
From Your
Affectionate Brother
Dave
 
Write Soon
I will now write to sister
Jenny
8512
DATABASE CONTENT
(8512)DL1425.017117Letters1864-05-13

Tags: Conscription/Conscripts, Excitement, Fall of Richmond, Marriages, News, Newspapers, Poetry, Robert E. Lee, Rumors, Substitution/Substitutes

People - Records: 2

  • (3142) [recipient] ~ Lewis, Eliza R. ~ Williams, Eliza R.
  • (3147) [writer] ~ Lewis, David G.

Places - Records: 3

  • (167) [origination] ~ Johnson's Island, Ottawa County, Ohio
  • (2252) [destination] ~ Newark, Licking County, Ohio
  • (2253) [origination] ~ Radnor, Delaware County, Ohio

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SOURCES

David G. Lewis to Eliza R. Lewis, 13 May 1864, DL1425.017, Nau Collection