No-3-64

 

Chattanooga Tenn, Jan 13^th 1864

 

My Dear Friends

                        Haveing nothing to do this afternoon & being rather lonesome I thought that I could do no better than write a few lines. We have had some change in the weather it being a little warmer. The papers say that you are haveing some very cold weather since the 1^st of this month. we did have some cold weather here for about a weak after Christmas.

 

            They expect the cars will be here tomorrow. they may not be through to this place for eight or ten days yet. just as soon as they do get through I am going north. they wont / send any more north till then. If my foot was so that I could bear it on the floor I dont think I would go for the Doctor wants me to come into the office and act as clerk for him. he says he could get me detailed there as long as the Hospital was kept up but then as soon as the RailRoad gets through they are going to move all of the Hospitals back to Nashville or some of those places so it wont do me much good to go in the office. The Doctor told me that if he was here he would let me have a chance after I came back.

 

            Capt Roby who commands our Regt was over here the other day to see me with the Doctor. he told me that I had better take a / discharge. he told the Doctor if he thought best he would have them made out. I told the Doc^t that I would not take a discharge. if I was sick it would be different. he said that I never would be able for field service again. any way I wont take a discharge quite yet. if I thought I could do better at home I would take it. There is nothing very particular going on here. there is no news what ever.

 

my foot is healing slowly. the soreness is deep in & it will be some time yet before it all comes out. the other day I was out trying my crutches too long. my leg was swollen up prety badly when I came in. it was so painfull that I could hardly sleep that night but now the swelling has all most / gone down today. I was out & walked some ways without its hurting me very badly. I think I can come to it by degrees.

 

the trouble is I cannot hang my foot down. I can't even when I am sitting down bear to have it down on the floor. it wont bear up the weight of my leg.

 

            They have been trying to get our boys to reenlist again but they did not make much. not one reenlisted. some six of Co G enlisted about a month ago but I guess they wish they had not now. there are a great many old regiments reenlisting again I guess some Regiment starts home every day now. yesterday two Regiments from Ky started home. the 38 and 42 Indiana out of our brigade has gone the 33 Ohio is going one of these days. It seems curious that I have not received any mail from you I have not got a paper since I got that bundle that had my suspenders in & I have not had but one letter there is trouble some where along the mail rout but I must close write soon. Ever yours

                                                                                               

Frank M. Phelps

 

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When does school close there or is it closed allready. if so when does it open again what teacher have they got in the place of Prof Griffith who went as a substitute for some one I should like to know who was drafted up there I have never recd the papers you sent that had the list in send another if you can get it handy if not dont do it till you hear again                                                                                                                                       Frank

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