Description:

War-date letter of Union Pvt. Elbridge Franklin, Co. C, 5th Michigan Infantry, 8pp. 8vo., "Camp near Hampton [Roads, Va.]", Apr. 3, 1862 to his father. In small part: "...So many troops are concentrating here that the hospital is overflowing with sick consequently they are discharged as soon as they are able to get away....We now live by ourselves in a tent made with our two oil cloths...there is hardly room to sit erect in it...we drill 4 hours each day & the remainder of the time we play ball or engage in some sport which makes time pass...18th Regiment & 5 batteries are encamped in sight...a large number of soldiers has been landed at Newport News...We expect each day to hear a fight with the Merrimac. She was in sight last Monday but did not venture to attack any of our vessels. The Monitor or Yankee cheese box on a board is waiting patientl;y for the Merrimac to come out. I understand another ironclad gun boat has come & will assist the Monitor should there be an engagement..." The letter also bears a brief signed note at the conclusion by his brother, Pvt. Luther Franklin, also of the 5th Michigan, who would be KIA at Gettysburg. He notes that Elbridge has been called for guard duty. He wistfully adds that if he were home, his mother likely would not complain of the "noise" as he had broken out with measles and could not speak forcefully. Very good.

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July 31, 2019 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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