Dear Friends  I have a chance to send you a little word by one of my men going to Paw. Paw. & will leave this in Kall.  I am in command of half of the camp & act as orderly Sergent  I took 50 men to church tonight we were adressed by a track distributer of the army now I must write all the time until 12 oclock & call the roll in the morning at 6 oclock.  I am having good times & am on the good side of all the Officers.  all of Capt Douglasses men & all of Sprolls men another Capt & a few other men are under my Command.  I should get a furlow if I was not so busy.  tell sis to write to me & all of the rest but I must close for the man is going.  so good By.       S.F. McOmber

Addressed to Mrs. L.M. Denison

Kalamazoo.

Mich.

Dear Mother

I have just got a pass to go to town tonight & I can now send my letter I want you to be shure to send me those things by Express as soon as posible.  for I am in Great need of them   I am Commisary Sergent for our Co.

P.S. Today I have been promoted to 1^st Sergent and have had considerable drilling to do.  My feet wont stand it. please get some wash of the Dr for me & send me my bottle of medicine in the express package.

I am & ___

S.F. McOmber

P. S.   Please send my Slippers

When not engaged in drill, McOmber worked as a clerk, and then as a Commissary Sergeant attending to provisions. In his letters, he wrote extensively about  his work duties and promotions. Off-duty, the men played ball on the commons and passed time playing Euchre. During these early days of service, Spencer’s letters displayed positivity and determination, as expressed in such comments as, “I like it here first rate.” 

May 13^th 1863.

I have not had a chance to go to town to put my letter in and dont know when I can  I am on the jump all of the time  I have writing to do for the Whole Camp  I write passes for the boys but they wont let me go down town because they want me here all of the time.  I like it here first rate.  We will be mustered in five days so says the Major.  I have all my Soger Clothes on and make a fine Show.  You need not be surprised if you see me day after muster ride into Kalamazoo aboard of an old Calvery horse on a tow days furlow.  but I cant be shure.  We are having bad times here about some things part of the men are under a Capt here which we all hate & they will not muster under him.  I think Douglass will get most of his men.  Capt D. will be in K tomorrow & next day.  he left here last night.

I am.  & so

S.F. McOmber

Camp Lee Barracks

Grand Rapids     May 13th, 1863.

Dear Mother  I think I can immagine some what you[r] anxiety about me.  I have not had one chance to send my letter to you because there is no post Office unless you go down in the heart of the City.  And they will not allow Me to go for I am so busy.  last night the Major Came with the Adj and called me one side said that for the present I would act as Clerk for the Camp.  And they gave me quarters in the Quartermasters department.  I am the only one in a large nice building with a good stove good bunk and evrything nice & clean.  I also Act as Commosary Sergent and make out all of the Provision Requsions of our Company (that is all that do not belong to the Capt we put in the Guard House.  Which is half of the men in Camp.  We have about 140 men here now so you see I am busy but I am Gay you better believe.  We will stay here all summer and the Maj has sent for 200 horses  & Sadles so we can drill.  We will be mustered in 4 or 5 days.  please send by Express all of my Shirts What so ever & my Clothes Brush a small looking glass a Comb & Brush & all of my neck-ties.  I guess I can get the Lieut to take this to town today or some of the Boys.

Adress. S. F. McOmber

Grand Rapids

Mich.

also the same in your express package

Your Aff. Son

Spencer

Lee Barracks Grand Rapids
Michigan  May 8th  1863

                Dear Friends

I arrived here night before last all sound.  I enjoy myself finely here we have about 170 men in the Barracks, and Keep no Guard expect on the Guard House.  I shall remain in Capt Douglases company with the position of Co Clerk.  I can get the place as Sergent in other Companies but Dont like their Officers. here I have nothing to do at all but to Drill.  I shall go to Washington before I shall take my place as Co Clerk. But after today I shall have business enough to keep me busy writeing for the Adj–  I did not like the fair at first but I am now so much well used to it that I like it.  I thought at first it looked to much like Hogs to see evry one try to get the most potatoes & the biggest piece of meat but I find I can take care of my share when roll is called for meals.  you may direct you letters to me at Lee Barracks Grand Rappids Mich.  (care of Cap Douglass)

Dont expect we will leave here for a month but cant tell. Good By  Write soon

From S.F. McOmber

P.S.  I paid out all my change for dinner & Supper on the rout so if you please sent me a few postage stamps.

Addressed to Mrs L.M. Denison
Kalamazoo
Mich

Throughout his service and during his adventures from Salt Lake City, Utah to Omaha, Nebraska, where he worked for the railroad following his Army discharge, McOmber invested much time in his correspondence, especially with his mother. He wrote to her at every turn — from his exciting first days at training camp in Grand Rapids, to picket duty in the Virginian countryside; from his New Jersey hospital bed to his “dull” days waiting to be discharged in Salt Lake City.

Like other soldiers, McOmber gave tactical details, described his daily duties, and discussed battles, marching orders, and administrative rumors.  Interestingly, his letters provide more than mere facts.  They read more like journal entries. In between the headings “My Dear Mother” and “Your Aff (affectionate) Son,” Spencer  reveals his opinions, fears, observations, and ambitions.

For instance, when he enlisted in the 7^th Michigan Cavalry Regiment on May 4, 1863, McOmber swelled with enthusiasm and a thirst for life as a soldier. Proud to serve his country, he wrote about fellow Michigan soldiers, life in the barracks, daily drill, and the anticipation of receiving orders to join the fighting. However, as the fightung dragged on, it took a toll on McOmber. His letters illuminate his increasingly critical sentiments about the government, the Union, and military service while revealing the personal challenges and triumphs of a maturing young man. Studying McOmber’s letters, we learn about his military experience, and the critical moments that transformed a teenage boy into a hardened soldier.*

Follow the Museum’s Civil War blog beginning on May 8, 2013 as we post each letter written by McOmber exactly 150 years earlier.

Saturday Augst 21st/63

Friend and Sister Harriet I reed your letter this after noon it found me well. I was on Pickett last night we had a good time. our whole Regt goes on Pickett 1/4 of the time the regt is not very healthy now but I think it is as healthy as any of the regiments in the service but it is so awful hot here and South of here that a white man cant any more than live and lay in his tent it is a kind of an under ground heat it is mad caused by lime Stone it is one Solid lime Stone Rock for 40 miles Sqare Nashville stands about in the center of it, I dont know as there is any use of writing any war news to you for you get it about as fast as I do but I will tell you that Rosecrans is making his head quarters at Steveson Alabama his Suply trains were crossing the Cumberland Mountains yesterday the report is that Bragg is a going to give Battle at Chattanoga Tenn but he cant Stand Rosecrans heavy guns if he felt so disposed

there was two large freight trains of Pontoon Boats went south yesterday morning early I guess they will make a good walk for this Army to cross to Chattanoga on. I expect to hear soon of the whole Army being in Chattanoga but I may get fooled. we are doing guard duty around Murfreesboro and I think likely we will perhaps all summer I would as live stay here during the heat of the Summer I think George has had a very hard time but he has help do a big thing he has tasted hunger as well as us unlucky Scamps that was prisoners last spring. I pity a man that has to go so long with out food when they get their regular meals they dont get any more than they need I dont think there is any news to ad so I will bring this to a close by asking you to write again respectfully your Brother Chester to Harriet Lewis

Murfreesboro Tenn

Saturday night

August 21st/63

I am writing to my Niece Electa Lewis and I hope you are well for I am and doing well I received a letter from home to day the folks were well as far as I know my father has been very sick but is getting better now but he cant stand yet on his limbs the cars is ratling around so that I cant think of any thing to write and it is getting dark and I will stop for the night be a good girl till morning August 22nd/63 and I am well and hope you are also we was called up this morning at 3 in the morning and formed in line of Battle and stood there till light the report is that Gen Forest is within 8 miles of us with 8000Calvalry but I dont credit the yarn at all your will have to excuse this short letter and poor spelling and writing there is no news to write no more this time Chester M Beebe to Electa Lewis

Please tell Marissa to send that receipt for soddering jewelry if she can find if she cant find the one we need to have she will find it in Dr Goins Doctor Book

Murfreesboro Tenn Oct 14th /63

Most Dear Parents I will take my pen in hand to answer your very welcome letter yesterday I was glad to hear you was well and doing well it found us well Avin was on picket but he has got back all right again

Me wrote to you night before last so there is not much news to write but I will write a little there was a wagon train passed here for the south it was going to Burnside I guess there was 1 thousand fifty 4 Batteries and some Cavalry it is very mudy here for it is raining and has rained for 3 or 4 days Henry Beebe is well and weighs 150 he likes soldiering just rite he is the best one of the Family I am glad to hear that father has got Mr Adams to work on the house I hope some of the folks in Brady will get at it and fix the house up you sayed you was thinking about us in the Army all the time I think of you and home very often but then I go to whistleing to get it of my mind I have made up my mind to start it without a murmur my time out we have had some Forts here I am glad fruit is so cheap I hope you will get all you want Chet to you all my love to Marissa

March 15th/63

Dear Sister and Friends I received a line from you to Gid I read it and will now try and answer it Gideon is dead he died in Feb the 27th with the Chronic Diarea he died very easy there was a man lay by the side of him LB Mattice and he did not know when he died he must of died very easy I was about dead when he died I could not walk 40 rods to save my life I could do nothing for him myself but he had good care I think I have been sick over 3 weeks but I am on the gain and I guess I will come out alive but our regt is is [sic] all taken Prisoners but one company and the sick there is only 30 men fit for duty now in the 19th they have sent to the Governor of Mich to call us home our men are at Shelbyville now they are parolled and will go home in a few days we got a letter from the Capt and that is what he seyed there is no one that you know that is wounded there is but very few of our men that is killed there is 4 wounded men out of our Comp they are mostly wounded in the legs nine are dangerously wounded I am very very sorry you lost your horse for it has thrown you out of a team you can write to me if you will Your affectionate Brother C M Beebe to Harriet Lewis

March the 1 1863

Dear Father Mother Sister and Brothers how are you to day well at least I hope so I am well again and if any thing A little tougher than before Chester is still on the gain I wrote A letter onely yesterday but I am bound to answer every letter that I get from home there is grate hopes of getting our pay next week in my last letter I told you that we had got orders to March for Kentucky so we had but the order is countermanded and we are to hold ourselves in readings to reenforse a forse that is at franklin we expect an atack there soon and they May atack us here there has been rebels seen within 2 miles of camp but not more than 50 at A time rebel Signal lites Could be plainly seen from where I am writing night before last and was the night that they Come in site of our pickets our Brigadier Generals name is John Colbren our Col name is Gilbert our majors name is William Shafter it is getting dark and I must stop

Good night Folkses

William R. Beebe

Good Morning all how are you all this morning well I hope. I am the same old bill toughest pill in the box Chester is Better this Morning I think he is going to get wright along he is pretty week [sic] yet Mathew T Corwin is pretty sick with the Camp trot I have got it stoped on me and my Bowels are regular again that and lice is the two hardest things to guard against I have just got done washing A shirt for Chet and one for Myself I am getting  so I can wash pretty handy Father if I get my money when we are hear how had I better send it there is about as much Danger to send it by express as by mail from hear far the express Company wont be responcible for nothing thats taken by the enemy and think there is more Danger of the express being taken than the mail but I don’t know will send it as you Say Mother you can send them likenesses just as quick as you get them they will follow the regt let it go where it may I cant get on this sheet what I would like to write but it will be as much as you will study out for I don’t Spose you can read it without studing it two or three days there was A letter came to Gid last night but poor boy never will read it he lays in A soldiers grave where many of the noblest men of Michigan lay and where I shant be ashamed to lay if it should happen to be my fate

Direct to Nashville                           this from William Beebe

Write soon

To his Friends at home

Eggs is 25 cents per dozen

Egs is 25 cents per dozen out hear cookies-3-for-5 cents Candy 2-sticks for-5-cents 3-apples for A dime and A piece of Corn bread as big as you use to cook for one meal wood fetch $1 1/2 one Dolar and ahalf hear it don’t take but A small piece to fetch $50 cents biscuitte A man wood have to get two months pay and then net out the Sutter any thing to get enough for one meal but hard Crackers homeny rice beans Choffie tea Sheep hogs Chickens geese turkes I don’t Cost nothing so yay you can bet we don’t go hungery

(Note: The stationery features artwork depicting a soldier with a flag above a Union camp. Above it, Beebe wrote: “Long may it wave over the land of the free and Jeff Davises grave.”

Brentwood Ten

Dear Sister

I now seat my self to write a few lines in answer to yours which I received in due time and was very glad to hear from you and to hear that you was well I am not very well I have ben sick a long time but I am geting beter now I am very weak and dont feel much like a good soldier We are now ten miles from Nashville towards Murfreesboro and just so much nearer the foe and when we get orders to march again I want to be able to take my gun and go with them and show my good will for my country We had a great time here to day our general made a long speech to us and two other Colonels and it was enough to make a good patriot of a reb to listen to them I am in the regimental hospital now and that Chet Beebe who use to come up to our house is takeing care of me he sends his best respects to you and all of the rest Chet is not very well he has got the ague I guess though he is around and able to do duty tell the girls they must excuse me for this time for I dont feel able to write a very long one and my hand trembles some We are on a very prety spot of ground It is in the woods and on a litle hill the I railroad on one on one side and the turn pike on the other it is the best part of the World and all most all of it laid in ruin the fences are burnt for miles it looks hard to a man who likes to see things look nice around him you must excuse me for this time for I cant write much this from your ever true and affectionate Brother G E Portman

Direct to Co K 19 reg Mich Fifty First Brigade 3 division army of Kentuckey Rosencrantz Corps

Via Louis Ville

Ky

Co 19 19^th Reg. Mich

Fifty Rosencrantz Armey

First Brigade 3 Division army

of Kentucky Via Louis

Ville Ky