Head Quarters Co. C. 7^th Mich. Cav.

Picket reserve near Sumerville ford Va. Dec 9^th 1863.

 

Dear Father.

          Yours & Henrys letters of the 22^d Nov & yours of the 30 were received on the 4 of this month the reason of the delay in their reaching me was on account of the movement of the army accrost the rapidan & there was no communications allowed so we could neather receive nor send any mail.

 

Our army in the west has done a big thing but I think our movement prevented Lee from reinforcing Longstreet so that we helped some.

 

I have not received that box mother sent me for the reason that I could not get to Adams express office in Washington & they do not cary any thing any farther I wish we would go into winter quarters / & then I think I could get a pass into Washington & get it.

 

You wanted me to get a ferlough if we went into winter quarters I think such a thing is imposable but if there is any chance for such a thing I will try to please you but not my self for I do not like the idea of coming home & staying a fiew days where people live human & then having to go back a gain & living as we live besides I think it would injure my health to go home & get accustomed to home ways & then come back here & live out doors in midwinter you may think it is not cold here but it is the worst kind of cold it will be so warm in the day time that you nead no over coat & it some times freazes an inch at night You wanted me to come home & recruit / I ain't mean enough to do any good recruiting it takes a man that can lie drink & play Billiards to get any men & hang round saloons from morning till night.

 

If you want to know the position of our brigade during the advance of the army of the potomac I can tell you in very fiew words it was to hold Mortons ford I have heard it rumored that our division was going to be relieved by the infantry & that we were going to fall back & go into winter quarters & guard the line of communications but it is only a rumor & I do not no any thing a bout it.

 

I am glad to heare that Saginaw is growing so finely I do not think that brige will help Saginaw any though it will tend to make an oposition between the East Saginaw & Saginaw City merchants. / I see by the papers that they are going on with the rail road between [?] & Fentonville when that is finished it will do more to help the Saginaw folks than any thing I see.

 

I received a letter from Charley Voorhies at same time I received yours his was dated the 16^th Nov & he said he had been sick one month and had only been up ten days when he wrote. I have not had a chance to write to him yet.

 

I also had a letter from Bronson Southwick

 

Capt Clipperton is in Washington I have not seen him since I saw him in your office. I see by the papers that he sold his in to Detroit. Capt is here & is well so is Carson & Darling does mother know Lieut Carsons wife he tells me that his wife say's you are all well the last letter he received from home. Love to all

 

From your son

W^m G Gage

 

[front margin]

 

Enclosed is a check for fifty dollars of $99.14 last pay day.

 

[overleaf]

 

Glover

Summerville ford

Dec 9 63

Answered—

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