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+Letter of Abner Van Dyke
+Sunday, Jan. 19.
+It is a very dark, rainy day—had our inspection in quarters this morning; nearly the whole company were in the ranks, and the guns and clothing were in good order, making due allowance for the wet weather and the poor health of the company. Last evening, a few of us were invited to the Colonel's quarters, and had the pleasure of listening to a lecture by Capt. Kendall, who has been for some years past in the service of the United States, acting as an explorer. He exhibited several varieties of cotton, which grows mainly on the West coast of South America, from Bolivia to the western confines of Patagonia, and on and between the coast and interior ranges, far above the snow line. It grows on trees and needs no cultivation, is very hardy and does well in the Northern and Western States. He had a sample sent in a letter from Canada, (grown there) which is superior in texture to any ever raised in "the Land of Dixie." The lecture was very interesting and instructive, and we all enjoyed it after so long an absence from such intellectual feasts. Cotton is no longer "King;" and even if the rebels are brought to terms, it will he many years before they will recover from their wretched state sufficiently to supply us, (say nothing about the rest of the world) with cotton, consequently we must raise it ourselves or find a substitute. But I will leave this to older heads and more experienced pens. My purpose is simply to give your readers the little incidents of a life in camp, and not a treatise on political economy. I notice in the letters sent from other Regiments, a great deal of boasting, but the "gallant First" speaks for itself. Wherever we have been stationed thus far, we have received many compliments for our good conduct, neatness of appearance and superior intelligence. We owe much of our reputation to Lieut. Col. Roberts who is the Col. of the Regiment, and is constantly labor for our advancement and improvement in the military art, and at the same time is very kind and attentive to the sick and unfortunate. Mrs. Roberts is a "Good Angel" to the sick and afflicted; dispelling by her kind and genial ways, much of the gloom and loneliness common to a camp hospital. I offer her the tribute of a grateful heart for those kind words and a "friendly grasp," when fever burned my brow, and assure her that her acts of mercy are felt and appreciated by many - a manly heart. Our friends in Michigan have sent us books, tracts and magazines, from time to time, for which we thank them. I will simply suggest that papers would be more interesting, and more generally read by the Regiment.  Please call attention to this matter. Detroit and "home" papers please us most, send then along, friends. "The living present" is the soldier's field, and the newspaper, fresh from the press, he eagerly devours.
+Yours truly,
+Abner Van Dyke
+Co. E., 1st Michigan Infantry.
+And the generations yet unborn, will bless the heroes name: letters and poetry of Abner Van Dyke, 1st Michigan Infantry, 25th Michigan Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops\\
+https://governingmichigan.org/collections/view-item/?DMaliaslist=p16110coll4&DMItem=35
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 https://www.excelsiorbrigade.com/products/details/LTR-540
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+Letter of Abner Van Dyke
+Camp Michigan,\\
+Annapolis Junction, Maryland,\\
+Jan. 31st.
+Mr. Editor:
+On this mild morning the last day of January, at the risk of wearying your readers with my uninteresting notes, I will send you a few items, which have transpired since I last wrote.
+We have been having very disagreeable weather for a long time past, raining nearly every day, and so muddy that we could not leave our quarters, without being loaded down with "mortar;" but the sun is now shining for the first time in about a week, and it looks like the face of a faithful friend, "fairest when seen in darkest day." As his first rays, pierced the gloomy clouds, and fell upon the window before me, I felt like exclaiming with Milton, "Hail holy light! offspring of Heaven first born!"
+The people here inform me that February is generally a pleasant month; I hope it is for we are getting tired of being cooped up in barracks and drilling in the manual of arms. We long to go out into the fields and breathe the pure air of Heaven once more. The health of the regiment has improved a little of late, and as the new hospital is now finished, and the sick moved there, they will be very- comfortable, and I trust the Est of names on the "sick-book" will soon diminish. Our Surgeon, Dr. Turnicliff and his assistants, are very kind and attentive and do all they can to banish disease and death.
+I think when the weather becomes more settled, it will be healthier. We need more exercise in the open air, and a greater variety of scenery; in proof of this, I will simply state, that the companies out on the Railroad, acting as "picket guard," enjoy much better health than those in camp. Men who have spent most of their Eves in out door occupations (as most of them have,) cannot long retain their vigor when forced to stay in barracks and listen to the cry of "shoulder—arms!" and other commands equally tiresome, when so often repeated A forward movement would do more for the health of the general Army, than all the medicines which the Surgeons can prescribe. But just now such a move is impossible, so we must "learn to drill, and wait for something to turn up."
+At the court-martial, recently held at the Colonel's headquarters, several pretty hard cases were tried, and their sentences were read on dress parade a few morning's since. One Beegan, who had become notorious among us for his "dare-devil" courage, was dishonorably discharged from the service of the United States, and sentenced to the penitentiary at Washington, for one year at hard labor. I think the punishments which these offenders receive will have a good effect upon others who are disposed to break the peace and disobey orders. Verily, "the way of the transgressor is hard." With a very few exceptions, we have a very peaceable and orderly regiment, and I hope the guard house will have fewer inmates for the future.
+Capt. Withington, of the old Michigan First, has been released, and is expected here today on his way home. We are preparing give him a suitable reception.
+Yours truly,
+Abner Van Dyke
+Co. E, 1st Michigan Infantry.
+And the generations yet unborn, will bless the heroes name: letters and poetry of Abner Van Dyke, 1st Michigan Infantry, 25th Michigan Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops\\
+https://governingmichigan.org/collections/view-item/?DMaliaslist=p16110coll4&DMItem=35
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+Letter of Abner Van Dyke
+Camp Michigan,\\
+Annapolis Junction, Maryland,\\
+Feb. 10th.
+Mr. Editor:
+I have just returned from Baltimore, where I spent three days very pleasantly. I had formed a very had opinion of the place, from what I had read and heard about it; its rowdies, riots, rank secessionists, &c, hut in spite of all these, I am forced to own that the monumental city is well worthy its name; also that it contains men and women of as clear heads and noble hearts, as are found in any part of the country. The men of the Mich. 6th speak in terms of the highest praise of the Baltimorians. When any of them are sick, some kind hearted citizen offers to take them to his house and take care of them until they are well. This has been done in many instances, and goes to show, (more than any words of mine) the true spirit which pervades the Union men of Baltimore.
+The Washington monument is a splendid structure, reared, of course, in honor of "The Father of his country." It stands on an elevation overlooking the city, and from its top one gets a fine view of her, wealth and splendor. I ascended the monument, lantern in hand, pausing many times to rest. The sides of the wall were covered with moisture; the air was damp and cold the lamp emitted but a feeble, flickering gleam, and every footfall was echoed from the top to the bottom of the winding stairs. As I slowly groped my way up, I was reminded of the. descent of Constance de Beverly into the gloomy dun- geons of the Convent. Those of your readers who have seen the' graphic description hy Sir Walter Scott, will easily catch my meaning and can in imagination ascend with me to the top of Washington Monument. At length a ray of light appeared, and I soon stood in the open heavens, far above the noise and confusion of earth. What a scene met my gaze! Never, no, never will the impression he erased from my memory; even while I write, the thousand objects which I saw, pass in one grand review before my mind's eye, like the moving glories of a panorama.  Fort McHenry, with the good old flag waving, is seen in the distance, commanding both the city and the bay; it looks like a "Giant slumbering in conscious strength." But I hope that that strength will never need to he exerted in destroying so fine a city.
+The shot tower is quite a place of resort for soldiers. It is about two hundred feet high. I was pretty tired when I got to the top, but felt well paid by the fine view which it afforded me. I did not have an opportunity of seeing the process of shot making as it was not going on that day, but all the implements used, were there.—I remember reading, in my school days, in Comstock's Philosophy, something about the operation, and inwardly thanking a somewhat retentive memory for said particulars, I descended once more to earth, agreeing with the poet that it is a "painful preeminence, ourselves to view, above life's weaknesses and its comforts, too."
+Green Mount Cemetery is emphatically "a city of the dead." The lot contains sixty two acres and the monuments are beautiful. All that the sculptor, the poet and bereaved mourner could do, has been done to embellish and adorn this "silent city;" and although such labors are vain, so far as the dead are concerned, they are tender tributes of respect, and "to the living, useful." Slowly, musingly, I wandered on stopping occasionally to gaze on some of the most attractive scenery. It seems as though the friends of those who sleep there, have been striving to see who could procure the most touching memorial. It is a noble strife, for nothing marks the state of civilization in a country, more than the degree of respect shown the dead. "The Mount" is covered with cedars of native growth, I should judge, their green and cone like tops make them look very beautiful; these stand silent, hut eloquent mourners over the dear departed. This must be a delightful place in summer—when the earth is clean, and the numerous vines and flowers scent the air with their fragrance. In the centre of the lot is a Mausoleum, in which the dead are placed, previous to interment. They are often kept here for months on account of the weather, or waiting for the arrival of friends. After passing an hour or more among the "tombs," I departed feeling that I had seen a convincing proof of man's mortality. Baltimore is not wanting in her attentions to the education of young. There are several very fine institutions of learning here, erected and endowed by the city.
+I visited the Eastern Female High School, which, at present, is under the supervision of Mr. Thayer an able instructor, and a fine man. The building is a good one, and every thing is quiet and orderly about the school. There are about two hundred pupils now in attendence, with six assistant teachers, all ladies. They were all in the assembly room singing, when I entered, and be assured, Mr. EDITOR, I was charmed and delighted to hear once more, those school songs to which I have so often listened with pleasure in early life. They sung some Union songs, the "Star Spangled Banner," &c, which roused my patriotism not a little. Blest be the cause of education everywhere, and all means provided for the instruction of sons and daughters. "An enlightened and virtuous people can never be enslaved."
+The Michigan First still lives and (not wishing to offend our friends of the Gallant Sixth, who treated me so kindly) I do think we can outshine any regiment now in the field.
+The Baltimoreans give a good report concerning the boys of the Sixth, which I think they well deserve, for they are a fine lot of boys, and conduct themselves like true soldiers.
+I wish something new would transpire so that I could have more news to communicate.
+For the present, I pause.
+Yours truly,
+Abner Van Dyke
+Co. E, 1st Michigan Infantry.
+And the generations yet unborn, will bless the heroes name: letters and poetry of Abner Van Dyke, 1st Michigan Infantry, 25th Michigan Infantry, U.S. Colored Troops\\
+https://governingmichigan.org/collections/view-item/?DMaliaslist=p16110coll4&DMItem=35
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