Head Qrs 12^th Mass Vol^s.

May 13^th 1863.

 

Dear Friend!

                                    Ho, ho, who, is this from, will be your acclamation, when you open this, read on you will find out. although I have never written to you before, I asure you it was not because I had forgotten you, but because I was so stupid not to think of your adress. a day or two ago I inquired of Kingsbury about you. when he told me that you were still in Rockville, I at once made up my mind to write to you imediatly, and here is an apology of a letter I hope it will be acceptable

 

You well remember when I saw you last, on the battlefield of Antietam. Well "Fred" do I / remember that look of pity you gave me, when I lay on my back wounded. If I mistake not you promised me, to take care of me and was going to Clark to get permision to take care of me, when you was struck by a shot wich took away your foot. since then I have heard nothing official from you but that you had your foot amputated and was doing well. I hope that you are well now. You may thank God for your safety when you look back and think of Miller, Cary, Grover, and in fact all our poor brother soldiers that we lost by our side.

           

I am thank God, once more able to do light duty after being in the Hosp'l 5 months, still at times I have pain, / since I have been wounded I have recieved 2 Commisions. I have now recieved the appointment of Adj't. wich under present rules, is quite a hard place, every few moments a new order, & a call for more reports. the army is now more organized, an Officer now has to ballance all his accounts &c. it is well as it is in my estimation the army as it it is now, is in better condition for a fight then it ever was before. in the recent operations our Corps the 1^st took the part of strategy wich was hard work but little fighting we lost 3 wounded & 7 taken prisoners, we in place took 2 Officers & 99 enlisted men some wounded, some not;

           

We are now in camp about a mile from the river. I expect that we will / remain here about a week or so when we will again resume active operations be it as it may whenever it will be the 12^th will give a good account of themselves. we have now 201 Rifles, about 175, are effective.

Hoping soon to hear from you I will close

 

accept my best regards

                                               

Yours truly

Chas C Wehrum

Adjutant

12^th Mass Vol^s.

To

            Fred Swarman Esq.

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