Washington D.C. May 6th 1865
     Friend Frank
		Imagine the difference
of our position today and one year
ago today. a year today and about the same
Hour the Johnies took me yet to look
Back to that time it seems about five
months. time passes and waits for 
no man. think of the changes since
them. then our cause looked hopeless
                                       many of
now everything looks bright. ^ those
that then hoped to see Friends and
Home are no more with us. what a con-
trast. I Recd your letter and have just
Perused it I was pleased to see your 
determination to do different. I too had
the same determination to do different
when I left Fentonville but I fear I
have made poor Progress. you know
the Evil influences that surround
a soldier and how prone every one
are to go astray from doing right.

I am now looking for the day when
I shall be a Citizen and then
see if I cant live differently. But
Frank we are detached from the 9th [illegible]
and attatched to the 2nd Battallion
of the V.K.Co. a doing duty in this City
and we shall no doubt Remain in
the service till your time is out
that is the talk you will undoubtedly
be discharged as soon if not sooner
than we as I see all the men in 
Hospitals are ordered to be discharged
immediately Co. B [G?] K H. I. and C. are
doing Provost duty in the City the Rest of
the Regt are stationed outside of City in camp
on light fatigue duty all of the Boys belong-
ing to those Cos. that has no arms are
in camp Clark Dibble and myself
are here doing nothing but Eat and sleep
By the way there has been a great many
Promotions Adjt. Chase to Capt Lt
Willey Capt. Lt. Clifford to Adjt. 2nd Lt
[illegible] to first Let. Sergt. Watkins to first Let.
B F Pease first Lt. John Dougherty First Lt.

   Sergt single first Let. Sergt. Baldwin
   first Let (Capt. Baldwins Brother) Sergt. [Bube?]
Second Let. Col Elys son a conscript 2nd
Let and a sergt of Co B 2d Let that
is all. no non coms made at the
time the most of them will 
not muster for fear we shall
soon be discharged and they will
not Recieve pay enough from their
commissions to pay for loosing
their Bounty. Look out for your
descriptive List it must be made
out if I have to make it out myself
I made out three muster Rolls the other
day and we shall Recieve pay soon.
	Well Frank I had written 
so far when an order Came from
Maj Doyle to go to the Qr Masters and
draw [A?] tents for the Co and pitch
them for the co for these Cos. that are
on detail are to return tomorrow
to the Regt and a detail made from
the Regt like camp on Picket Guard
and we shall Probably Remain here

a while Frank excuse this letter
I do not know what to write or
I would write more and I may
have a desk to write on next time
write soon tell me what they did
with those Drafted men give my
Respects to all the Friends and
Except this from your old Friend
		Dewitt
Direct to Co G 8th Mich V V Infty
		Washington D.C.
dont disgrace us by [put?] the V R C on
I am glad you are having a good time
there Good Bye        D.W.CS