Camp 1st Mich Engineers June 7th 65
			near Washington, D.C.
Dear wife I will now try to write to you. I have
no excuse for this long Silence and aparant
neglect but the expectation that we should be
mustered out before this time but hope deferred
makes the heart Sick. I have been considerable
out of health for the last ten days the long
march was too much for me. my legs gave
out after I got here. The next day after the
review I was taken with a pain in the
marrow of my legs the doctor Said it was
a bad case he gave me medicine but
it did no good So at last I concluded
I should be a cripple but I thought I
would try steaming so I went at it on
my own hook and it cured my legs in 2 days
business is very urgent I dont know how
Soon we shall be mustered out some think
this regiment will be retained as a veteran
regiment I have my dout about the reg-
			               next
iment being mustered but before ^ fall. I
have not wrote before because I wanted
to find out something definite but I
have not found out anything yet if we
dont get mustered out soon I shall come
home anyhow. All the one years men in our
regiment are mustered out to day and have Just
started for home. I wish to God I was
among the number the one years men and
those that enlisted in 1862 are all up in
line now to start for home I have not
had any news from home Since I wrote
my last letter either you have forgotten
me or you are very sick or you have
stopped writing out of revenge on me for
my negligence. if you are sick get some
one to write for you and I will get a
furlough and come home but if it is out
out of revenge I say you have got revenge 
enough So go to writing again. I Saw
Pratt Minard while I was at Alexandria
he is a great big six foot man now
he is tough as a knot. I hope you are
not sick but it seems very lonesome not
to hear a word from my dear and loving
wife and little darlings away in their
country home far away from their father
I Fear something is wrong at home but I have
felt that God has promised me to see
my dear wife and children once more 
and make them [illegible in original] with my

presence of their quiet home in Gratiot.
I am glad to hear Arden is going to
School as he will learn faster that than
he would at home. I hardly know what
to write about that would do you any
good So I guess that I will bring my
letter to a close and ask God to bless
my dear wife and little ones and let
nothing mar their happiness but
bless them in all things. I will send a
kiss for each of you but you must take
it from the paper. from your ever
true and loving husband and lover
			Simeon A Howe
kiss      kiss      kiss