Trenton Mich May 11^th 1862

G W Browning

                                    Dear Sir & Brother

 

Your very kind favor of the 28^th came to hand the 6^th and I was just on the point of starting for this place to work about 5 or 6 Weeks So I was compelled to put off the answer untill this time when I Left home the folks ware all well your Wife was at my house the 4^th and was well I have not seen Capt Rs Wife Since the report of his Death but when that news came I went to See her and held myself in readyness to start after his body but we ware all agreably disapointed to hear he was alive & kicking Our Bigelow Famaly ware in the best of Health & Spirits when I left but I think they will miss Old Gat alitle before he gets back

 

I hope the next that I hear from you..You will be in better health & spirits but I know its d—d hard for a man that’s been in the habit of haveing the Luxeries of Life to confine/himself to the hard fate of the Field of Battle & undergo the privations of Life thats nesisary for a Soldier but Doct(sic) I must say that my Bones Ache for a shot at Jeff Davis & Co but the weather is to d—d hot there for me now But George if you can Cut off their retreat and keep them off the Coast of Florada the thing will soon be Setled for they Tremble at every Joint now the Boys all Look for army news from me and they dont Seem to care whither they write to you and the rest of our Boys as Long as they know you are well they apear to be Satisfied but not so with me for I know how much good it does you folks to hear from home & friends and if it took me half my time to write you Shall hear from one at Least

 

I have in the 7 8 21 43 & 54 Ohio Rigament that I corispond with besides my famaly & Lodge Corispondants and amongst them all I dont Suffer any Letter to go unanswered a week You have probaly got all of my Letters & I think I have got all of yours but one your Wife told me you wrote one to me the same/Day that you wrote to her and gave me the date that has not arrived yet but will probaly come—for Some time 2 Letters will come to me the same day from you that ware writen a week apart I recd 2 from you and one from the Capt the Same mail

 

I have made all the inquary I could about that Trunk and can find nothing in regard to it please Send me the Mans Name that you sent it by and the date he Left Camp Whare he would probaly ship it & how so that I may Look more dilagently for it give my Love to Capt Richardson Lut Potter & Col Smith (although he is a stranger) yet he is a Brave man I know and must be a good Mason for he takes things cool will be Seen from Looking over all the reports of the Pittsburg Battle

 

Well Dr I must Stop for this is the 5^th Letter I have writen today and must write 2 more yet—So give my best respects to all of the Boys and I hope we shall soon have Pease restored and give you the chance to return home & Shake hands with your Fraternal Friend

 

                                                                        Gaston G Allen

SOURCES