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Cpl. Lewis Bloodgood
Letters home while engaged in the Civil War, Jan. 1864 - May 1865

Pine Bluff, Ark.
Nov. 12th, 1864

Dear Ones at Home

I have just received your kind letters and a happier soldier boy you never saw. For the last month I have been unusually sad and lonesome owing to no occasional visit from you, no cheering was it from those I love so dearly. Sometimes I thought you sick or had met with some sad accident on your way to our new home. But after hearing of your safe arrival and that you were all well I could not but be happy and exclaim from the bottom of my heart that God was truly good, even unto us. The last letters I received were dated Sept. 18th. You then spoke of leaving for Iowa in a week. You said nothing in your letter where I should direct so I did not answer until a week ago. I directed it to Manchester in care of Uncle Lewis. You no doubt will get it. I have enjoyed the poorest health this fall since I came in the service but I am feeling quite like myself again, as tough as a hare. All of the boys from the Prairie are enjoying good health. I tell you we are living finely now, have as nice and snug a house as a soldier ever saw with everything to make soldiers happy.

We have had some excitement in camp for the last two or three weeks in regard to election. I am sorry to say there are a few in our regt. that sustain Mc but very few though. We told them they were traitors if they would vote for such a man. It made them very mad. Some of them were so mad that they wanted to fight but election passed off very quietly. Old Abe received four hundred and thirty two votes, Little Mc thirty two. A great many democrats would not vote at all because they did not like McClellan's platform, neither would they vote for Abe because he belonged to the republican party. They said, " It seems to me that this party business should be done away with." We had one democrat in our company who voted for McClellan. He received a letter today from Andrew Johnson. After reading it he said he would give fifty dollars if he had note voted for him. He said he could see just where he had done wrong. It was E. Lyman. I suppose father did not vote this fall. Tell him I voted for him. O how mad some of the democrats were because I voted. They watched me very close so as to challenge my vote but I was most too sharp for them.

Has father bought a place or rented one and how far is it from Uncle Lewis's? I do not understand which way it is yet nor where it is hardly. Seems so I wanted to know all about it so that in nine months I can come right to it. I believe 'ere nine months rolls around the Star Spangled Banner will wave triumphantly over the whole Union. Let us put our whole trust in Him. You must write soon and all the news. Kiss the children for me. Remember me to all the friends.

Your Son and Brother
Lewis B.


Letters generously shared by Creighton Lewis Bloodgood



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