hachtel21

While enduring his hardest fighting of the war, Sylvanus received bad news from James: ". . .painful news of brother Luther's death and of our
nephew Egbert Havens. Situated as I am where death is seen hourly and daily. . .I have become accustomed to it. . . But to hear of the death of
a loved brother and nephew without showing some tender feelings must indeed be a savage. . . under the Paternal Roof good and wholesome instructions, good music and advice, was instilled. . . But they have long slept in peace and we as a family beame separated. . .But Brother and Sister we are traveling to that Bourn whence no traveler returns. Oh let us. . . be able to say in all sincerity we are prepared to go."
   On April 20, the Michigan 14th moved back west of the Cape Fear Rever to prevent any move by Johnson's army to head into South Carolina. Sylvanus added a postscript to a letter from Hooly Springs on April 22: 'Well I can now say the "War is Ended", and I hope in a few months to be at home."
   Sylvanus wrote a glowing letter about the victory celebration in Washington: "Here we are at the Capitol of the United States after a march of over two thousand miles. . . Here are assembled the combined armies of Grant and Sherman numbering some three houndred thousand men. . . to receive the homage of a grateful People. . . Our corps being the last to be reviewed, we were detained on the road. . . About noon we fell in. . . finally wheeled into Pennsylvania Avenue. . . On this street the stand was erected for. . . the President, General Grant, Sherman, Meade, August, Sheridan, and a host of others. . . How the book prickled in my veins. . . Gerneal Sherman and Lady presented us with a Beautiful wreath of flowers for our flag. . . one we brought from Mich. with us and has been shot and torn. . . evidence that they have seen hard service. . . At Georgetown we crossed the river over a pontoon bridge and marched back to our camp. . . I now hold a 1st Lieutenant's commission and am in command of Company D, the Color Company. . . we have had no pay since the 31st day of last August."   His new status delayed the new lieutenant's discharge from service. On June 30, he writes: "I am so lonesome and discontented that I hardly know what to do. . . Some thirty regiments are to be musted out of the service immediately. Thisincludes the 'sixty-three' men, veterans as well as non-verterans. This will not reach our case as we re-enlisted in January Sixty-four. . . I sent an application today for leave of absence for twenty days and it came back disapproved. . . I am the only officer with the company and existing orders are such that there must be one officer present. . . my suit of clothes cost me a hundred dollars in Washington. . ." Finally on July 14, he wrote: "We are coming home. . . We are working night and day to get our muster and roolls completed." The Michigan 14th Veteran
Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered out at Louisville on July 15, 1865 and sent by train to Jackson, Michigan, arriving July 21. They received their pay and wre discharged July 29.
   By October he reports to James: "On getting home I found my farm matters all upside down. In fact, there had been no one to look after it. . . my farm had not been improved a particle since I had been from home. Your humble servant pulled off his coat the second day after getting home, shouldered his scythe and commenced operations in the hay field. . .Tell me what the prospect is in your vicinity for buying a small farm say for about fifteen hundred dollars."
   While enduring his hardest fighting of the war, Sylvanus received bad news from James: ". . .painful news of brother Luther's death and of our
nephew Egbert Havens. Situated as I am where death is seen hourly and daily. . .I have become accustomed to it. . . But to hear of the death of
a loved brother and nephew without showing some tender feelings must indeed be a savage. . . under the Paternal Roof good and wholesome instructions, good music and advice, was instilled. . . But they have long slept in peace and we as a family beame separated. . .But Brother and Sister we are traveling to that Bourn whence no traveler returns. Oh let us. . . be able to say in all sincerity we are prepared to go."
   On April 20, the Michigan 14th moved back west of the Cape Fear Rever to prevent any move by Johnson's army to head into South Carolina. Sylvanus added a postscript to a letter from Hooly Springs on April 22: 'Well I can now say the "War is Ended", and I hope in a few months to be at home."
   Sylvanus wrote a glowing letter about the victory celebration in Washington: "Here we are at the Capitol of the United States after a march of over two thousand miles. . . Here are assembled the combined armies of Grant and Sherman numbering some three houndred thousand men. . . to receive the homage of a grateful People. . . Our corps being the last to be reviewed, we were detained on the road. . . About noon we fell in. . . finally wheeled into Pennsylvania Avenue. . . On this street the stand was erected for. . . the President, General Grant, Sherman, Meade, August, Sheridan, and a host of others. . . How the book prickled in my veins. . . Gerneal Sherman and Lady presented us with a Beautiful wreath of flowers for our flag. . . one we brought from Mich. with us and has been shot and torn. . . evidence that they have seen hard service. . . At Georgetown we crossed the river over a pontoon bridge and marched back to our camp. . . I now hold a 1st Lieutenant's commission and am in command of Company D, the Color Company. . . we have had no pay since the 31st day of last August."   His new status delayed the new lieutenant's discharge from service. On June 30, he writes: "I am so lonesome and discontented that I hardly know what to do. . . Some thirty regiments are to be musted out of the service immediately. Thisincludes the 'sixty-three' men, veterans as well as non-verterans. This will not reach our case as we re-enlisted in January Sixty-four. . . I sent an application today for leave of absence for twenty days and it came back disapproved. . . I am the only officer with the company and existing orders are such that there must be one officer present. . . my suit of clothes cost me a hundred dollars in Washington. . ." Finally on July 14, he wrote: "We are coming home. . . We are working night and day to get our muster and roolls completed." The Michigan 14th Veteran
Volunteer Infantry Regiment was mustered out at Louisville on July 15, 1865 and sent by train to Jackson, Michigan, arriving July 21. They received their pay and wre discharged July 29.
   By October he reports to James: "On getting home I found my farm matters all upside down. In fact, there had been no one to look after it. . . my farm had not been improved a particle since I had been from home. Your humble servant pulled off his coat the second day after getting home, shouldered his scythe and commenced operations in the hay field. . .Tell me what the prospect is in your vicinity for buying a small farm say for about fifteen hundred dollars."

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