No 4 or 5        

Head Qurs. "E" Co. 38^th W.I.V.

Madison July 15^th 1864

 

My Dear Friends.

                        Your kind letter reached me safely last evening was very glad to hear from you and sorry to learn that Sarah had was so sick. I received a letter from Menasha which said sarah was sick and that Uncle Josiah was very sick.

 

            I am enjoying very good health & are haveing a good time but that will not last only two or three days longer. As for Alice's photograph—you can tell her that I think it is a very good one and that I am many times oblidged to her for it—and when I get down to the front, I may acknowledge the receipt of it myself. Yes I am going to the front again to run my chances, with many others, in this strugle for "Freedom". Last Friday night we received orders to start from Madison on Wensday morning & report to Brig Gen Casey at Washington D.C. / We are getting ready as fast as possible, shall start about 9 A.M. from here.—

 

            Oh how I wish I could see my friends once more before I leave this state perhaps never to return. how I realize now the happy & pleasant moments that I have passed since my return. and now I leave all of these & go +  +  + but what am I writing about.—I enlisted to fight and fight I will without any words—but still I cannot help but look over the three last years of my life and with wondering amazement think of the firery ordeals and trying hardships through which I in common with our Army have passed. With the past to judge from, is it then unsoldierlike for me to look forward to the future, with such feelings which cause the blood to run cold in my veins? think not that I would not go for I go willingly and cheerfully. The dye is cast. I am satisfied—what more is needfull?—nothing.—

 

            By the time this reaches you I will be on my road for Washington. from there we will go over into Va. to Camp Casey where we will get our guns & accoutrements. from there we will go down the Bay to Ft Monroe then up the James River to C Point / where we will join the rest of our Regt.

Out of the 400 men that left here in the four companies of our Regt. only 64 are left. out of the 100 85 men we go to the front with, where will they be two months from now? It is a burning shame to put such new recruits into the front ranks of the army. who at home will want to enlist—to be shot down before he has hardly time to put on Uncle Sams uniform. I am in hopes that we may get detatched to do garrison duty there in Washington long enough to learn the men how to handle a gun and live on hard tack & the like. but I dont suppose there will be any chance as our Regt is to the front and they will want us there, whether we are good for anything or not.

 

            Well. I had to stop & go to dinner so I will commence again & tell you what has been going on here in Madison. Last week I called on "Pump Carpenter's" (the great Copperhead) daughter with some others, had a nice boat ride on 3^rd lake. Yesterday, Howes Great European Circus was here, so I had to / go up with my men to keep them strait. during the evening it commenced to rain & kept it up till 10 A.M. today. I never saw it rain harder this year—it did everything good. I did not go to church this forenoon as I am on duty as 'Officer of the day' and can not leave, as I have charge of every thing in camp. this is the last time I do duty in Camp Randall for a long while three long years

 

It is so warm I hardly know what to do, looks as if we would have some more rain yet. I had a letter from George last week. he was sick in Hospital. I saw his name in a list of sick from there before I heard from him. I have not heard from the 10 for a long while. they are where they cannot spend time to write very often.

 

            I must close as I want to write a letter to Menasha. direct your next to me at Camp Casey Va. via Washington, dont forget the Co and Regt.

 

            And now I must bid you a long, long farewell for I go perhaps never to return.

 

you must write often and not wait for me, for I may be where I cannot write. Uncle, Aunt, Catie, Sarah, All, good by.         

Frank.

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