Letter from A. Ferguson to David Ferguson, Mar. 15, 1864
Transcription by
James McCallum
April 2024
Letter from A. Ferguson to David Ferguson, Mar. 15, 1864
Directing to A. Ferguson, Cincinnati, Ohio, 4th (illegible) Corps, 1st Batallion
March the 15th 1864
Respected brother. I now write to you to let you no (sic know) where I am and how I am and what I am doing. I am well and in good (spirits) and I hope these few lines will find you and your family the same. Dear brother, I was glad to here (sic hear) from my father and mother but I am sorry to here (sic hear) that they are so (feeble). Give father and mother my best respects tell them I am coming to see them as soon as my time is out. I will be out next February the 5th 1865. Well what I am doing I am in the (field) barracks here in Cincinnati Ohio a guarding prisoners and expect to stay here till next fall. I got disenabled at the (disembarkment) of Vicksburg but am over it pretty mutch. One shure thing I am out of reach of the iron hand(?) of death (?) but some times I wood like to go back and try the rebels over. It is fun when you get in to a good big fite thinking of going into a battle is the worst part for everyone. Well what are we a fiting (sic fighting) for in the first place. We went out to defend the negro. The southern people was bound to make(?) a slave (?) union of the hole {sic whole) United States of America they had so (many) Negroes that they cood (sic could) not find (sales) for all they had(?) unless they could force them north and we did not want them amongst(?) us nor we would have them (neither). Well to gain our Coolars (?) and freedom we had to confiscate there (sic their)
Negroes and all there (sic their) property or else they wood continue this war for 20 years shood we alow them to (police?) those Negroes they wood rais (over) a nuff for to supply the hole rebel army and by taken them a ways from (illegible) they have gott to show them which people to (illegible) (illegible) one ground and raise there one stuff by so doing we can starve (?) them out. They have gott to come to there milk (?) now in a short time for we have the biggest army ever known in the world (?). now and we can raise as many more men in to months last week thare was 1,500 rebel soldiers deserted and came in to our lines at Chattanooga (?) and continue to come every day by (illegible) day by day. O David I wish I cood send you a newspaper butt I can’t. When I get time I will you a letter (?) of better (?) satisfaction. I am in a big (illegible0 at present. I have to go up tow (?) and do a little writing for the (3 words illegible) a grate many prisoners (illegible) at present and I have as a detail to go to the (illegible) officer every day for 4 hours if I (illegible) nothing to do but stand my (illegible) I wood be content. I expect to go home the first of June next to see my blest wife and children (?). Julies has gott one boy there that I have never seen yet I am anxious to gett home. I wood have went home before but I was afraid I cood not get away again and that wood cause trouble. No more at present but remain your most effectionate brother. A. Ferguson. Fare well Please write as soon as this comes to hand. Please give me your post office address.
[Aaron Ferguson was born in Malahide Township about 1822, the son of John Ferguson. He was married in 1845 in Malahide to Julia Hunter. They moved to Michigan prior to 1860 and lived in Elk Township, Sanilac County. Aaron served in the American Civil War in the 15th Michigan Infantry, and was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on Novem
