Marvin McMichael enlisted in Co. K, 13 th N.Y. Volunteer Infantry on Oct. 17 th , 1861 at the age of 22, discharged for disability April 26, 1862. Fought at 1 st Bull Run, losing 58 members These inked Ms letters were written on Jan. 2 nd, 10 th Feb. 19 th , 22 nd & March 10 th of 1862 from Camp Stephan Fort Corcoran Virginia, across the Potomac from Washington D.C. In the first he writes: Washington tant a vary nice city they is a good meny deseters in that city they would like to kill you men if they coud they look vary hard… (Marvin has colloquial speech and spells phonetically). Continues: we hav hard times on gard tis so muly & haf to stand on gard every other Day it is tuff I have got a vary bad cold now I don’t feel vary good to Day tell George to write to Me and I will write to him We are vary sung for Money...tis cold in our tents tis cold to write a leter I cant write a vary good My hand gits so cold that I cant write vary good...they is a good meny sick in the ??? hospitle they is a good many with the measels… The letter from Jan. 10 th reads in part: Camp Stiff Fourt Corcoran Virginey. Dear Friend I will take pen in hand to let you now that I am well as coud be expeted & hope that these few lines will find you the same...I am near washington On verginey soil stand with gun in hand to march to the Battle field to do mi duty in fiting we are now in poters divison in Marvin ?ale Brigade we are to chage urders marching orders our Curnel got a telegraff dispach to March an take nothing but our guns and our cartrige balls I think that Means Will be a battle ta Sentes Vile in a few days Then we will hafta go to fight we hafta go to halls hill ???? a weak to drill we hafta march four mills before we git thair when we git thair we hafta drill all day then march back to our camp Tis summ hard to drill all day I went over to washington nernyers? It was the first time I had bin over thair since I have Bin in the army I went all over the city to see sun nice girls in washington it was the first ladys I had seen since I have Bin in the army that ant be saying much Tell George theys havnt meny pretty girls in washington I think that the york state girls Best The Virginey girls all ??hallers I belin I wish you was hear to go with me over to washington to see sum of them I think they wood take your fancy vary much Washington is settled about half of them with negroes the citty is purty Black with there sum of the negroes noses is about a foot long their lips ??? They are purty I think they is a good meny Sanlg?? in the battle field we are camp close by the Rode teams are passing all the time they have four horses on a wagon they drive them with one line they draw stuff for the ?anlgers in Virginey…if I go into a Battle I will do the best I can Helin I will send Mi respects to you I shall remember you I shant forgit our vile we took that Sundy I left you that night I didn’t think it wood be the last time that I see you it was Tell alice that I sent Mi Respects to her I sent Mi Respects to your father and Mother and all the children tell our folks that I will hafta try Mi gun at a Rebble I am going out on picket now belin I will close Mi letter I send mi love to you Good Bye for this time wright as soon as you git this wright all the news to Me get George and all wright soon from Marvin to Washington DC 13 Brig K new york State Volenteers. Condition norml folds, else VG.