This letter was written by Pvt. William F. Parks (1844-19xx) who enlisted on 23 March 1865 at Grand Rapids to serve as a recruit in Co. F, 6th Michigan Cavalry. Not long after this letter was written from “Remount Camp” in Maryland, the regiment was ordered to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where William deserted on 17 June 1865.
Parks is buried in Highland View Cemetery in Big Rapids, Michigan.
The letter was addressed to Sophronia (Harriman) Shephard, the wife of Orrin W. Shephard of Croton, Newaygo county, Michigan. Sophronia had a son who served in the 26th Michigan that was captured at the Battle of Reams Station and died in a Confederate Prison.
Transcription
Remount Camp
Chapel Point, Maryland
May 10th 1865
Dear Mother Shephard,
It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity of writing to you to let you know that I am well at present and sincerely hope that these few lines will find you and all of the rest of the family [the same]. Tell Birty [Albert] that I have not forgot him. Father that I have not [forgot] him and tell him when he is drinking, that I want him to drink for me but I should like to be there and drink it myself.
I have been sick three weeks but I am better now and think that I could dance. But I don’t suppose that you feel much like dancing. You said that your son [Nelson Shephard] was dead and died in [a Rebel] Prison. I was sorry to hear of that for I was looking for him every day for there is paroled prisoners coming in here every day.
I hope that we will soon leave this place for it is sickly here and we have poor water here. We expect to leave here every day. We are under marching orders and have to stay in camp all the time.
Well I must stop writing for the bugle is sounding for drill and I must attend so no more at present. Goodbye. Give my respects to all of the girls and folks around there.
—William F. Parks
Write as soon as you get this. Direct your letters to Remount Camp, Chapel Point, Maryland
You must excuse poor writing. I know you would if you could see the place that we have to write on. I hope that you will remember us all, so goodbye.
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