George A. Codwise Letters

Wartime Correspondence of George A. Codwise

Please note: these letters were transcribed circa 1950. Since the originally spelling and grammar may not have been preserved, I have edited the letters for clarity. For instance, the transcribed letters were not divided into sentences. Suspected transcription errors have also been corrected.

D C 1862
September the 24

Dear Aunt,

I have written before to you and now take this opportunity to writ again to let you know that we are all well and enjoying good helth in gineral. The change of water has given us the dioree threwout the camp. We are under General Woodbery more at Fort Baker in full view of the capital. We are engaged in falling timber [for the] fort. I think if we cant keep the rebels out of Washington it is not for the want of forts and men. We are on a high elevation and can have a full view of the countrey. Our tents in a very fine place and have got pine trees at our tents everything looks fine and cheering.

I want you to write and let me now how the boys get along. I have had two letters from home they were all well and in good health. The michigan seventeenth left Fort Baker the night we came hear and have had engagement with and according to the news the was beat prety bad. But they carried everything at the point of the bayonet on the hill and mountain crest for stifing stone. The slaughter was great. I want you to let me now how Uncle Dan is and John and the rest of the boys, and know how you get along. The rebels are getting starved out and are talking about invading the union stats for something to eat. Let them come that is what we want. They will find that we are all armed with springfiled rifel.

The weather is very warm and dry we have not mutch rane yet. It is very dusty in our streets. We are all in good helth as can be expected on acount of the Climat and water. The water [is] soft and we are uste to having hard water. It make[s] Consideable deferans. We have plenty of it and it is a fin thing. It [is] nise for washing. I expected to find the district of Columbia a garden instead of being exposed, as I was much mistaken in the countrey.

No more at present but send my love to you all and keep a good bit fore yourself. Omit all mistakes. Everything is lovley and goos hangs high

Washington D C
Michigan Infantry 24 reg
Co – G – Captaen

Camp Wayn[e] Virginia
September the 7th 1862

Dear Aunt,

I now take this oportunity to let you now how we got along. We left on Friday afternoon and got at our destination on Monday noon at washington and marched from there to Fort Lions that afternoon . We stod there a few days and then went to Camp Michigan on Washington today. [It is] in full view of the Potomac and Mariland shore. It is very prety situation hear. We are in full view of [the] Washington Valey and about foar miles of Mount Vernon. The weather is very warm. Troops are poring in very fast. Michigan troops are poring in very fast. The Michigan 20 is in the rear. As for the defeat of our troops at Bulls Run, [it] has raised MCClen to his feet again. Then we will see whether it is fore the beter or worst or picket have Lest fetched acounter land in Camp.

I now will tell you the rout: we came from Detroit to Pitsburg Pencilvania, then to Baltonor then to Washington. We [went] thrue a very ruff countrey threw the Aleganey Mountains. The countrey from baltimor to washington is a very ruff broken countrey. Washington [is] a very shiftlest city. It [is] nothin that is aparent it was.

I now enjoy myself first rate. No more at present, but remain your afectionate friend, George A Codwise. Give my love to all my friends

Please direct your leters to the Michigan Twenty Forth Infantry Rigment Company G Washington D C

Transcriptions of these letters are in the collections of the U.S. Army Military History Institute at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania. Used with permission. The whereabouts of the original letters is currently unknown.