Franklin S. Mills

Near Cumberland Va May 14^th 1862. We are here with the 18^th Regt encamped on the banks of the Pamunkey River I have not kept any Journal for a few days past and I hardly know what to say for myself. We left Yorktown I forget when I wrote my last letter but we staid at Yorktown untill 10 am Saturday we had nothing at all do there except to take care of our teams.

 

Sat was pleasant & very warm we went as far as Williamsburg & encamped for the night. We had a rather tedious time. there was a train of wagons over 2 miles long besides some artillery that was ahead of us. Our train was composed / of the Brigade teams 31^st 32^nd 95 and 18^th We were under the charge of Quarter Master of 31^st some 30 or more privates from 18^th with a Lieut & Sergt were along as guard for the teams I saw over the Battle field at Williamsburgh. But I saw nothing that would indicate that there had been [?] in a few days such a struggle there except the graves A man from one of Vt Regt I believe who was there on guard told some very hard stories. He said that our loss was much greater than the papers would ever publish He said that he had help bury over 500 union troops it was a bad place for our men to fight in. the Rebels had all the advantage. I cant describe the exact situation as I had but little time to look around We encamped just south of the Battle field at dark and then I had to take care / of my self & horse. Near where we encamped was a several secesh & US guns, also a great quantities of clothing the most of it union, blankets scatered everywhere. I picked up a very good blanket but as I didnt know who had used it I give it to my horse

 

Sunday pleasant & warm We started 8 oclock am and after hard driving we reached West Pt about 4 pm from there we went 3 miles towards Kent City Court House where the 18^th Regt was encamped the roads were much better to day than yesterday and some of the way we drove pretty fast Scenery quite dull. Almost all woods & swamp Williamsburg looked quite pretty is much larger that I had any idea of we drove the town on a pretty good trot so I had but little chance for to see We were quite tired to night was glad to see the Regt once more. We had heard all sorts of stories about them Nat & Chesmore grab me by the hand as soon as I got inside of lines / Franklins Div had a skirmish with the the Rebels at West Pt as you have undoubtedly read ere this I cant say how many were killed I have not seen a paper since the 9^th now in this Regt one Lieut wounded is all I believe. the 95 31^st "Col Prall" 32^nd suffered considerably I see over 30 graves of the 31^st it is almost a miracle that the 18th was allowed to escape They were on the brow of a hill and Col Young gave orders for the men to fall down on their faces this probably saved them—

 

They fired 3 heavy volleys directly over their heads Chesmore says that if he had have been have standing up he is sure that 5 balls would have hit him. He tells by some twigs that were cut just over him. Nat says that two spears of grass were cut off within 2 inches of his head by bullets, a pretty close call I think the 18^th had but 6 companies out "the rest were on picket"—the Boys were generally cool and ready to do their best no credit is given in the papers to the 18^th But if I am rightly informed they acted well / Chesmore has just brot me a letter from home which I am very glad to see. In my letter from Cheesemans landing I didnt know where to tell you to direct. I presume you have got letters from me ere this that explains the case. As for Mr Wm E Niles tell the scamp not to send me any more such long letters. Your letter is dated May 1^st if I am right to day is the 14^th You can rest assured that I am glad enough to hear from you all again. the Rebels are not in so good order as they used to was and every day brings things nearer to a close Still I fear that they will give us some tro yet. I presume you are better posted as regards the situation now than I am as I have had no papers since the 9^th /

 

I am sorry old pomp is lame I often think of the kind folks at home and some times wish that I could see you all again. I dont want you think I am suffering or unhappy for such is not the case. I have but little to do and am getting along well. I.E. as far as living or the present wants are concerned. But when a man makes any money as a private it will be after this I will send all I can spare I am heartily ashamed of my efforts to get along & make things comfortable. But believe me whether I write or not I havent forgotten home nor never shall please excuse the lack of news in this letter & oblige

                                                                        Yours Allways            Frank

 

I found a knapsack of the road side yesterday marked F.M.N.J.Vol &c there was a clean shirt & a few sheets of this paper paper in. as I had no paper and the name was so near mine I took it there are lots of knapsacks &c throwd away the [?] and recd quite a compliment from Genl Newton. I can safely depend upon the statements of Nat & Chesmore as I never knew of truer blues. "Monday rain & hot or reverse as you please" Hot & rain in camp to day kept busy all day doing nothing AM cooked some rice PM I washed 3 shirts stockings &c Hung the washing. Tuesday we were called up at 4 ock AM getting ready for to start 6 AM. Waited untill 9 or ten for the road to get clear of wagons there was no end to them We arrived here 8 ock PM. We were bothered all day all sorts of reports going around some part of M^cClellans staff wagons were attacked & this for two or three hours made things lively / I dont know the particulars as yet so I cant tell much. (Genl M^cC— & staff passed within 3 ft of where I stood so I had a good chance to see them) the country is nothing but a sand heap covered with pine woods and cut up with cross roads & bypaths in all directions We had to wait & wait all day. the distance is only 12 or 13 Va miles same as Iowa. But when we are in the middle of a 50 acre corn field corn up 4 inches a kind of sand can hardly stop without going in our shoes We are having easy times to day it has been cloudy all day & for the past hour or so it has rained quite hard it is now 2 ock PM present prospects are that a day or two of rain is the first thing then some thing else could not possibly tell what

White House Va

May 17^th 1862

 

Pleasant but warm nothing to do to day orders to have our tents struck &c at 9 AM countermanded at 11 ock. at 4 PM I harnessed and went to a private house "Mr Hills" 2 miles or so up the stream with Col Young & Chaplain. Col is quite sick with fever hardly able to sit up cant walk alone. Mr Hills Residence is one of the finest I have seen in Va it is on the bank of the river. A large brick house well furnished. But still the natural beauties of the place are not much improved. /

 

Sunday 4 PM 18^th Hot as Blazes We are almost melting. I have had to go up Mr Hills 3 times & back today: to carry Dr Rice, Chaplain & provision or I should say Medicine. Hill owns nearly 15 hundred acres 3 separate farms a hundred or more slaves Hill himself is at the house but under strict guard. When our troops first came he said that every bit of blood in his body was secesh. His slaves had been at Yorktown all winter to work upon the fortifications. He helped sink a lot of schooners in the pamunkey river &c. I see such folks I had just as live see them swing as not what fools. I see a couple of slaves the best I have ever seen well dressed & intelligent looking to day who have just come in from Richmond they say / that the Rebels are scat to deth they represent things in a trifle different light than Richmond papers. The Rebels are destroying immense lots of grain & mining boats &c upon the James R. Hills family are all at Richmond from paper acts I notice that the White House is & has been a very noted place I was not aware of it until I read that Washington was married here. We are encamped a ½ mile from the House over 300 acres of level ground all seeded down clover a foot high over the most of it or was last Thursday But now it is completely covered with camps & you can see tents as far as you can reach with the eye. Wagons & horses there is no end to them while riding with Dr Rice this AM he made the remark that he did not think as there could be so many wagons in the whole US as we have here. When we go away / which will be tomorrow or next day I suppose there will not be hardly a green spot left "such is war" no fences upon this land or this tract By the roads a ditch 5 or 6 ft deep by 8 wide. I suppose [?] over two hundred wagons were stuck in the mud between here and our last camp the next day after we came here. So you may judge what the roads were. if you have not seen what a horse ambulance perhaps you will like a description the box is square 6 ft long 4 wide 1½ deep—this is covered with a Lthr top some 3 ft or a trifle more 4 post to a side to suport top Lthr curtains roll up if you wish. the hind end is fixed with hinges same as an express wagon two matresses upon stretchers with legs & rollers so that you can carry a man on them & then slip them right in or or out of Amb. the curtains roll down in front & behind in case of rain / it is all shut up tight I set or drive in front. A Board with hinges in middle a foot or more wide is upon the box and the mans feet go or can go under the board the curtain rolls down at back edge of your seat you have a small foot board with iron rail to put your feet against the Box is put upon platform scales two wheels 4 ft in diam. Iron axle crooked [axle diagram] down at each arm 6 inches same as an old fashioned chaise. Well enough they ride very easy on good road or rough they are awful of course you know they are very hard for the horse still with care you can drive them most any where. But some times the driver gets / throwed off in going over some of the rough holes that are so plenty in Va I was throwed off a few days ago my nose square in the mud still I kept the lines in my hand & didnt let the horse stop it didnt hurt me at all. I have seen several of Boys throwed out & I would have bet 50 dollars that I couldnt be thrown off But my foot sliped off of the iron rail & away I went The ambulances arent all alike. of the one horse mine is the best kind. But Sandy a fellow who works in Q M Depot has brot 3 or 4 H[?] and a pce of gingerbread down before me who would be fool enough to write with grub before him not I.—May 20^th Tuesday PM at Hills House setting in the shade of a couple large locust trees awaiting orders of Doct. Rice & Col Young. Yesterday we were called up at / 3 ock AM fed &c. I was sent up here with some things of the Cols the Chaplain rode back with me and I was again sent up here for to stay untill further orders. The Genl Hospital is down opposite the White House over 200 new & clean wall tents are pitched there for Hospital purposes Yesterday I had to go down there 4 times once to carry a Lieut of 31^st who was brot and left here thro mistake the rest to get a surgeon to come up here then more medicines &c the rest of the time I put in sleeping. The Regt moved with Div at 8 or 9 AM I have not heard from them yet it rained from 10 AM to 3 or 4 PM some of the time quite hard enough to make it quite hard walking for the men Heavy firing was heard in the direction of Bottoms Bridge today. Many think there is a or was a fight there. /

 

It is much cooler to day than yesterday there is a good breeze to day and one can get along first rate. Mr Hill has but about 50 slaves here mostly women & children stories vary so much that I cant find out any thing about them at all. As for the niggers I have but little sympathy for them since the Battle of West Pt. I did not see them cut wounded union mens throats still I am told that they did & pulled eyes out of all the bodies that they could get hold of. two niggers were hung up to a tree and left hanging by four troops so a Cavalary man told me that had seen them hanging. I dont remember what Regt he said hung them. I wish all negroes who are fighting willingly upon the Rebel side were in Abrahams Bosom. some of them that are here set a great deal of their Masters others the reverse are anxious to get away. I have papers up to 17^th did you send letter from Cumberland in Herald of 17^th date description of March / that is quite good I was in the grist mill it speaks of and Bot a ½ bushel of corn meal of the negro miller QMaster Tilly who had charge of the Regt wagons spoke to me about not being upon my turn and we had some words, but I have not heard a word since. I have easy times here and it is better than being in the Co so I should be more carefull than I am to keep the place. It is Boys work but that is all I am fit for you know. Many would say it is not so patriotic to drive team in fact would look upon it as low business, it is so. I think my self if I mistake not last fall / Puss expressed the same last fall when I wrote saying that I had a team to drive. I was sick at the time I commenced driving or had been and seeing a vacant place I made out to get it

 

I wish there was more riding or more work. last fall I had too much more than I knew how to do but lately not enough to keep my blood in circulation. here I am today I dare not go away for fear of being wanted so I go in for sleeping eating & drinking. have been down to genl Hospital twice took care of my horse and that is all I have had to do. The Col is worse to day some men just past my Amb saying that they thot he wouldnt live. I hope he will for he is a very good man much ahead of Jackson in coolness in time of danger. He probably saved the Regt at West Pt by his coolness at least so they all say. Dr Rice is sick being not able to prescribe for himself / there is a good deal of sickness in the Army Chesmore told me sunday that he was at shipping pt while I was at Cheesemans Landing & that there was on average 7 per day dieing in the Hospitals there other places I suppose are the same I dont see much of it. Yesterday I noticed that the Hospital tents down here were nearly full But enough for present. I dont know when I shall get a postamp. I am out entirely. The paper I was lucky enough to buy of Chesmore. What do the Fitchburg folks say about James marriage I must write to him as I want to hear from them. I have written to no one except him since I left Alexandria or some time before, consequently I receive no letters. none from home for quite awhile last dated May 1^st was only 12 days coming—

 

Wednesday Morning 7 ock it rained last night and this AM is a damp foggy mean feeling &c / I have just eat my breakfast and have got to put in the day some way. shall try to get some papers if possible I heard from the Regt last night they were 4 miles from here was going 4 miles further yesterday PM if so they will be 12 or 14 miles from R—d Dr. Edmesson is here and I shall try to send this by him to the Office. Dont forget to pay the post when you take it out & oblige Yours Allways Frank

 

At West Pt the 15^th Mass were encamped near the 18^th N.Y. But I didn't see them as I was at Yorktown. Nat was over there half of the time so he said. He heard no inquiries for me except from Fitchburg Boys. But he is not acquainted with any of the Oxford Co. the Col is better this AM and it is now thot that he will recover—if surgeons will kill him He dont stand but little chance as there was yesterday over 4 Drs here to see him.

Hills House Va May 23^rd. 1862. 2ock PM

 

To day am Thursday pleasant very hot and sultry. it looks as tho we should catch a shower if so all right.The Col is no better as yet. I have nothing to do except one or two trips to the Hospital &c per day I will send you a paper which describes the state of affairs at White House Pt. I said to Chesmore that I felt sorry that the man could have been such a fool as to leave such a place I see the correspondent copied my views or thots exactly—see pic marked. I am writing on the bottom of a water / pail consequently the chain is in my way but the house is close at hand I must put my blankets into my Amb or else they will get wet. I will enclose a Yorktown letter for Puss to mail Love to all. Cousin F and A included write when you get a chance Your

Frank

 

PS

All well & contented

the letters sent me I forgot to put in bundle. I reckon when you get the B you will think I was foolish to send it I packed it up in such a hurry that I forgot several things I meant to have sent so excuse it rains very hard and will no doubt cool the am which is very much needed

 

write all news & oblige

Camp King 8 PM

 

Dr Sister Puss

                        Your letter was recd as I acknowledged in W. I am obliged to you for writing It is all I can say at present. I am a trifle tired to night was at the Fort AM used a shovel pick &c The men at work finishing off a Bomb Proof. PM company drill from 1 to 2 Battalion drill 3 to 5 dress parade 6 or ½5. We had severill new motions to go thro such as escorting the colours saluting &c prayer by the Chaplain The rules & regulations are becoming more & more strict every day. But who cares I dont. / They never have tro me at all how soon they will I know not—

 

I have but a few minutes to write as we have a Roll Call 9 ock and it is most time. I will answer your questions firstly dress parade the Cos are formed in line a place is assigned to each Co as I mk'd plan and when any of the Cos are absent their places are closed up of course. The Cos are marched out in two ranks forming on the centre Co. "which is C" to the right & left having done this the Adjt steps out to the right of the line & by Co A. and calls for Rt & left guides. A Sgt then steps out from the foot of each Co

But it is roll call          Look at 2^nd Sheet /

 

Fort Ward 11 ock AM

I left of writing last night rather abruptly. Co^s D F & C are on guard at the fort to day. there are 4 Regts on 3 hours off 6. We are [?] I am on the 4^th We shall be on from 6 to 9 PM & from 6 to 9 AM We go to camp about 9 AM tomorrow. We have nothing to do until we go on gd But have to stay near when our guns are stacked.

 

We can read or write. I have no paper as yet so I will write. They say to step out one from the left of each Co. some 2 or 3 paces in front of our line and line themselves from the Rt as you can see that it would be perfectly easy for ten men to step out "some 50 ft more or less" apart "The Sergnt Major is at the left of the line He sees that they are in line" and to get themselves in line This done the Adjt gives command left dress / which order is repeated by each Capt We then come forward and dress our selves in line with the Srgts our heads are turned to the left so that we can the Buttons on 2^nd or 3^rd mans jacket Buttons from us over our nose with the Rt eye a command front is given & we then face the front Rt dress of course is the reverse. "Man at shoulder arms" the Adjt guides past the Srgt step to their places then gives the command at the Rt to order arms which is done by company commencing at A and as fast as each Co orders arms the Capt of the next steps out & gives the command to order arms. then parade rest. The Band then comes from the Rt marches down in front & returns same of course playing. The Adjt  says attention Battallion. Shoulder arms then prepare to open ranks to the rear open order. at this Srgts step backward 4 paces and line themselves as before. As soon as the adjt sees that the Srgts are lined he says March and the rear rank marches backward / 4 steps rear rank right dress is then given. then the adjt marches down keeping 10 ft or so in front of the Battallion untill he comes to the Centre Co. then he turns and marches about half way between the Batn & Col. who has taken his place in front of the Centre Co & some 50 ft from them. He then faces around to the B. and says present arms at which we bring our guns in front from a shoulder and the Col touches his hat. Then the adjt presents arms himself to the Col. then takes his place & in rear of Col. The Col then drills us in manual or as he pleases the adjt then takes his place in front and says Non commissioned officers to the front & center at which the Orderly Srgt of each Co. their place is at the Rt of each Co step out 3 paces in front at the command march they march to the center front they face the adjt. report they give no of their Co present or absent to your post march by return. then the adjt turns to the Col and gives their reports. then he reads / orders for next day if he has any. if not he says parade is dismissed if there is to be prayer or drill he says line will remain the Commissioned Officers who I forgot to say at the command rear ranks open order they all step in front 3 paces and dress from the Rt. March to the center front then face & march in line up to Col and salute him. after which if the line is not to remain the Cos are given over to Srgt who takes them to their quarters. this is a dress parade and we have to go thro with every night unless some thing turns up—

 

But here is a Herald—

 

5 PM most dark didnt read much I will send Clipper to morrow took a walk with Chesmore some mile or so didnt see any thing worthy of note. It is damp to night a trifle chilly &c last night was cold and ½10 it com'd to rain very hard and quit 4 or 5 AM it was very tough for the guard. I was in luck in my tent Whitteman was out He said it was the hardest night he had seen

 

Sunday Eve 7 PM

A pleasant eve but chilly to day has been cold except 3 hours in the middle of the day the sun came out warm rather cold & strong west wind. I got into some shavings of a carpenters bench last night But it was very cold a raw wind. I was awaked up severall times by the Srgts hunting for their reliefs so did not sleep much or get any good sound sleep. I had to begin on another sheet as i did not take this along I will send you a book some time that may perhaps give you some insight into our drills I hope you will excuse my description of dress parade and of course you mustnt show my letters to any one out of the family I recd Clipper pictorial also pictures of girls for Frank & Fanny will send the dutchman some thing the first chance I have. I bot some paper and these were with them We are under marching orders and I dont know where we shall go or when there has or was yesterday & last night quite a stir amongst / the Regts all around us our men were all in line at 6 AM But the order was counter manded in the first place we were to be left at the fort then we were relieved by the 15^th We came into camp 10 AM since then till 4 PM we had nothing to do but clean our guns and get ready for inspection. Knapsacks & all on the inspection lasted 2 hours from 4 till 6 PM We were dismissed and left to eat supper in peace Bread & Tea We have Sugar found us by U.S. Milk is ten cts per Qt I have not drunk any but once or twice since I left Albany. I dont care much for it you know. By the way the com neglected to send our supper up to the Fort last night so we sent down for it. It came about ½8 good hot tea & a loaf of new bread I was on guard Chesmore brot mine to me. I can safely say that it tasted good

Wednesday 28^th 9 pm laying down in my amb. the day has been very hot nothing to do wrote 3 or 4 letters eat and slept Boys rtnd from White House with rations they say the roads are awfull. I think I know that. strange rumors are in the camp this camp of Banks defeat Rebels marching on to W &c. I dont believe a word of it. Thursday pleasant hot as ———. A lazy day AM slept Eat &c. P.M. rode thro "the country" tried to buy some butter at several houses. see some pretty white gals back 4 pm slept till dark. Oh a lazy day—ain't I ashamed— / of spending my time so.

 

Friday nearly same as yesterday PM We had a teriffic thunder shower kept up all night. it was awfull I slept warm & dry but not so with thousands of others. Saturday warm but the sun kept hid most all day rain a little from 5 pm to 9—We were lucky enough to buy 50 lbs of flour. Pancakes for breakfast & dinner I tried to make a short cake but it was not very good. All we had to mix with was water & salt. Bacon grease

 

We were ordered to harness up 3 pm drove to Genal Newtons Head Quarters remained here all night orders were to keep the horses all harnessed. I unharnessed mine & slept sound all night. Heavy firing was heard all the afternoon till 8 pm the rest of night was still saw some Artillery & a few Regts of infantry that were a moving—

 

Sunday pm 2 ock here I am in the hot sun same as yesterday / The Battle has been raging all day on our left the firing has been terrible some of the time but does not as yet come up to B. Run—

 

the firing this am was musketry but that has subsided now and the artillery are firing once in ten or twenty minutes sometimes for a few minutes they fire as fast as I can count. A great many wounded was brot down from our right Porters Div at Hanover Court House in last battle there There must have been over 500 secesh wounded in that Battle brot to the Hospitals in this vicinity. I hope this fight will not be so bad but present prospects indicate that it will precede any thing that we have had yet as far as I have seen the men are cheerfull and are anxious to see the thing thro Many anticipate a discharge of some of the Regts when Richmond is ours It seems to me as very hard to be wounded here the climate is so hot that a wounded man stands but little chance / of recovery, and they must suffer beyond all account. Persons or parties who urge this unfortunate war cant think or realize of the immense amount of suffering one day may or does bring forth The Sanitary Commission do a great deal to relieve this but still it is but a drop in the bucket.

 

We have several Officers who are sick in our Regt the acting QM has gone home to day I suppose we shall have a new man to fight with now Who or what the new man will be is not for me to tell at present. After one gets acquainted with a man and there is no great defect he hates a change it is so with us He can stay. I have not heard from Col Young. it is not time yet. Good news has come & the Regts around us are cheering (Franklins Corps or his old Div under Slocum have not been engaged in the fight at all today) 800 prisoners taken & more coming in "is the Report" under Genl Carney[?] it is most likely true as the news came from Hd Qrts—

 

[front margin upside down]

 

I have had no green vegetables as yet Strawberries sell for 50 cts per Qt and cant not be had for that as our supply no where near equals the demand—

Dr Bro.

                        the post has under gone many alterations and is now nearly done the plan is the inside line at top of paraphet I think I wrote so you will understand how it is made but my first plan was so poor and not correct as to the shape that I thot I would try you with another It may not interest you at all if not it will not take but a minute to burn it and as you all wish me to write and I am most out of writing stock so excuse I have marked the places where the guns are mounted o—and the figures denote the size only those that are marked rifle are rifle. they are not all mounted as yet I believe that they calculate to mount 25 guns before they get thro. At present there is a bridge across the ditch at the gate but that will be fixed to draw in and leave but two timbers for the Rebels to cross on. The gates are made of 6 inch square sticks of pine 10 ft long put about 4 inches apart open in the middle and fasten by a bar of iron across from one post to the other The posts are logs set up each side of the gate the entrance at the gate is 14 ft wide 

 

At present the bomb proofs are the most there is to do I have marked their places on the plan they got one nearly done but it fell in I will try and tell how it was done first they are 12 ft deep they made a box of 2 inch plank and 4 by 6 inch scantling "all pine" this box comes up 3 ft higher than the top of the ground there is a foot between the sides of the box & the earth making the box 18 x 15 on the west side 2 logs are placed about 3 ft apart and 4 high for the whole distance [sketch showing "end view" "3 ft", "4 ft high"] or length of B.P. the logs are unequal length and the 4 ft logs are put across any where it is necessary and the sides are chinked up with pieces same as a log house on the east side which will be left open for windows & doors and the dirt does not come down the same as on west side There are posts put down 3 or 4 ft below the surface to H.P. some 3 ft apart and standing perpendicular with the logs put on top these posts are 4 ft apart lengthways. The logs are white and black oak from 6 inches to a foot in diameter [sketch showing "brace", "surface" and "3 ft"] the logs are now put across the top of BP resting on these logs at the sides and so it leaves a foot space between top of B.P. and the logs. the logs are 2 deep on top. dirt is then put on top 2 ft or more and the west side slopes off 2 to 5. it will be sodded in good shape. there will be 3 entrances on east side thro two heavy plank doors one at the top & one at the bottom of the stairs the doors are 4 inches thick and the the magazines are made in the same way as the west side of B.P. but one entrance on "east side" and that [?] 245 and opens with the slope of bank the other is at the bottom of the stairs. /

 

[top front margin]

 

It is now 8 pm it is raining quite hard any questions or suggestions you may make I will gladly look up & answer

please excuse

 

[diagram]

 

East

Washington

6 miles direct line                               Pivot gun                                             gate

from Fort in this

direction from the

Fort———North East

 

            mag                 hold 650 men              mag                 hold 450 men                 mag

                                    Bomb proof                                         Bomb proof

 

 

N                                 flag pole          100 ft wide      50 rods in Length

 

rifle                             rifle                                         rifle                             rifle     South

 

                                                            Munsons Hill

                                                            3 miles

 

Plan of Fort Ward

Please do not show this                                                          Ditch

to any one & oblige                                                                outside                         inside

                        Every time yours Frank                                  Profile of Bank

                                                                                                or paraphet

            west

Page 2 12^th

will answer James letter soon Love to all

 

How you will ever read this I dont know But I think you can make it out I am not so particular in writing as I know you can read poor writing and I hope you will excuse. The Sgt Major has just gone thro the streets saying Rt brig for picket guard to morrow. We go to Baileys Cross Rds. We dont have much to do. As you will see from what I wrote before the largest picture in the Ill News was or is a good picture of where we shall be stationed to morrow. I hope Father will send his long yarn soon also write often your self it will not hurt you to practice writing. I will try to send some stamps when I am pd again. Present prospects indicate that we shall make an advance soon / But I dont know where to. I shall write or send paper when we leave. You speak of D[?] I cant get one at present to say the least As for getting Blue and worrying about me—how foolish. I have easy times there are some things of course that are unpleasant But I make light of all tro^s. What good does it do to worry the more contented you make your self the better. You have a very hard time in some respects and if I had or could have seen things different and have been contented I could have helped you along. But I am ashamed to own that in stead of helping I have been a pull back to all of my friends. Only be contented and perhaps things may come all right. I hope you may be happy. But I presume I have tired your patience enough for now so good Bye. Bear in mind one thing not to worry about me I would rather you would never think of me at all

 

            excuse mistakes your Bro F