No 27.
Camp at Anderson Station Tenn.
Aug. 15th 1863
Dear Friends.
Yours of Aug 6 came to hand yesterday & glad was I to get it. this is the first I have had from home this month. I received some papers the day before in which Uncle said tht he was going to the farm. I suppose that you will have plenty of fruit this year. I wish it could be so that I could come & help you take care of them but I suppose it is all for the best. I got a letter from A. E. Bates acknowledgeing the receipt of that draft. most of the boys have heard from their money. I am glad it got through all safe.
As we have moved & we have have not so good a chance for sending / good many of the boys have backed out sending for either of those papers. I have a good notion to send alone although it would be much better & cheeper for a lot of us to send together.
What did the hat cost. I think it payed for it self comeing over the mountains. Jarome What is Jarome Cross doing. I was told by some one that knew that he wrote to one of the officers in the 21 asking them if they could get him a position in that Regiment he said that he would like a position in the Quarter Masters department. he wrote this letter about the time of commencement. Pete Dane is Hospital Steward in th one of the battalions in the Pioneer Brigade. I saw him last at Manchester he was looking very well then. Henry Spaulding was left there in Murfreesboro prety sick / I believe they were going to send him North to some of those state Hospitals. Frank Stow was left there at Murfreesboro. I believe they he is in one of those forts. there are only 3 or 4 in Co. D of the 21 that are from Appleton that I am acquainted with. Capt Turner is doing finely. he has been acting Major for some time but he can not get the place as two or three captains rank him yet. how it was, they were sick.
The letter paper & envelops came safe to hand. I believe I have written you two letters on it. I have got my knapsack with every thing all safe in it. my paper in my portfolio was damp but is all right now. I have plenty of writeing material now except stamps. I have 4 or 3 of them left. I am glad that George / is doing so well. when you write to him tell him that I should like to hear from him if he would only tell me what company he belongs to & where to direct. I would write to him. I guess he likes it better way off there than he did east for my part I am satisfied where I am.
The "Grand Army of the Potomac" seems to have "played out" they won one victory & that just in the nick of time but that is all they did do or have done. they seem to have lost all of their energy. it seems to me they ought to do more there with the men they have got than they do now but I suppose we had should not judge them not knowing the particulars & things in the way.
the boys have gone after some green corn & I must hury & close so to get my things out of the way & help them get dinner. you must excuse this short letter as there is nothing going on my face is well. I shall have my tooth taken out one of these days. love to all write soon Yours as ever Frank.
[front margin & overwritten]
I saw Jim when their regment went through here. both of the other brigades have left Cowan station & passed through here & camped 5 miles below. Jim is Sargent doing first rate. Alfred I did not see long enough to talk with he is well as usual he is driving now on one of the cassons. I dont think we will move for some time yet the 29 division is comeing over the mountains their first regiment got here this morning. with love to one & all. Frank