Monthly Archives: March 2012

Three Months have Passed

Three very eventful months have passed between Dewaters’ letters to his sister (at least among those letters that survive). On November 3, 1864, the 13th Michigan was assigned to Gen. William T. Sherman’s Army and about to begin the famous … Continue reading

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On to Georgia

Harrison’s next letter to Ann was written more than three months later than the previous one. Uncle Joseph has died but he makes no mention of it.. Harrison tells Ann that he has written to their father and it is … Continue reading

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Uncle Joseph doing poorly

Harrison’s letter of July 17 sends bad news home to his family. His Uncle Joseph, whom he has not mentioned in recent letters, is doing very poorly. Harrison describes this as Joseph’s “old complaint” without providing details. We know that … Continue reading

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Photographs

The next surviving letter dates to early May. Harrison writes to Ann from Lookout Mountain in Tennessee. In the months that intervened, he would have visited his family when the 13th Michigan was granted a 30 day furlough in February … Continue reading

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I’m Still Alive and Well

In late November, Harrison writes to Ann again, this time to let her know that reports that he had been wounded are false. He was distressed that Dr. Foster Pratt had included his name in a list of those wounded … Continue reading

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Battle of Chickamauga

Harrison wrote this letter from the battlefield. Combat has ceased but the soldiers are so close that they can hear the enemy forces talking. Harrison acknowledges that the Confederate forces held the field, that is, won the battle. He reports … Continue reading

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Gordon’s Mills

More than a month after his previous letter, Harrison writes again to his sister Ann. The 13th Michigan has moved south to Georgia near [Lee and] Gordon’s Mills. This was but a short distance from Chattanooga, Tennessee. The 13th Michigan … Continue reading

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You just tell the girls…

Dewater raises several interesting points in this letter. He says that men who marry to avoid serving in the army are cowards and traitors. He tells his sister Ann to tell all the girls that their boyfriends who have not … Continue reading

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Harrison’s Frustrations

Harrison’s unit was part of a larger force that was pursuing a Confederate Army commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg. The unit would spend another month in Hillsboro before moving on.  In mid-July, after the 13thMichigan Infantry had moved from Murfreesboro … Continue reading

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