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A.J. Juckett was a young man 20 years old in the spring of 1861. War had just broken out in April and I am sure, A.J. had many thoughts of what part, if any he would have in the struggle to preserve the union. I can imagine he may have thought, if he should just stay home on his families farm near Homer Michigan, or let someone else do the fighting. Or perhaps he was anxious to be with the rest of the local Homer Boys who were joining the ranks of the Second Michigan Infantry and carrying the fight to the Southern Armies in Virginia. We know now that A.J. chose to fight rather than farm, so on May 25, 1861 he enlisted in Company I of the Second Michigan Infantry. The Second apparently had little training and quickly moved from Michigan to Virginia on June 6, to June 10, 1861. This is where our letters begin. In a letter dated June 11, 1861 we find A.J. traveling by train describing the trip and the sights along the way. On July 25th, he describes his first battle, Seeing President Lincoln, and camping on some land across from Washington D.C. which he writes is owned by a General in the Southern Army, "His Name is General Lee" and has a very nice place. Apparently A.J did not, at this time know much about General Lee. This land would later become Arlington National Cemetery. On December 27th, he writes about Christmas Day and life in the Army, washing his shirts and socks, and describing his Christmas dinner. To the left you will find Links to all eleven letters that we have that A.J. wrote in 1861. |
