Sally Dimmers Fallon was known for her extensive knowledge of Hillsdale County history. Her family had deep roots through the Baileys. (You might be interested in Ira Bailey, who served in the Civil War. https://www.hillsdalehistoricalsociety.org/ira-k-bailey)

After Sally’s death her daughter, Sarah Fallon Briggs, carefully combed through Sally’s papers. She found Civil War letters that had been transcribed by Sarah’s great-grandmother, Cora Bailey Dimmers. Cora indicated that they were written by Lewis Rice to his wife, Lovina Bailey Rice, and forwarded by her to her parents, Jonathan and Hannah Bailey, at Ransom, Mich. Cora transcribed the letters as is, unusual spellings included. This was fortunate because the originals were badly faded. These letters offer a firsthand account of Sherman’s march to the sea.

The Bentley Library at The University of Michigan contains information on various Baileys and their relatives who served in the Civil War and whose letters are at the Bentley. Also included is their regimental information. (https://bentley.umich.edu/legacy-support/civilwar/civilwar_search.php?id=16)

The following letter was given to Sarah Dimmers, mother of Sally Dimmers Fallon and grandmother of Sarah Fallon Briggs. Given by Mrs. Vern Casler of Camden, Mich., an additional notation on the envelope says that William Chester, the letter’s recipient, was the “uncle of Judge Chester.” The letter was written from a camp near Murfreesboro, Tenn. It contains some amazing details about the fighting in that campaign.