No 5 in Va

Head Qurs 38^th Wis Vols

Sept 15 1864.

 

My Dear Friends,

                        Having nothing [faded] to do [faded] evening I thought that I would answer yours of the 12^th with Cousin Hiram letter inclosed. I was very glad to hear from you and was considerably surprised to hear from Hiram way up in Appleton for you know what when I was in Madison they talked of going the other way if Hiram could get away, but I am glad that they got out of Madison anyway. I should judge from what cousin H. wrote that he tried to get back to Appleton as it seemed more like home to him and that he was tired of Madison. Now I can look back and see what happy and / pleasant times I had both at home and at Madison. I was thinking more of Madison to night because I was speaking of Hiram. I did used to have good times there, and enjoyed myself hugely. I did not think so at the time when I used to sit there in Camp Randall prehaps doing nothing or reading. Then I was anxious for something to do, but now I have more than I can hardly get along with.

 

Well, I will soon have a Capt. down here to help me with a 2^d Lieut. I suppose you have heard of my promotion to 1^st Lieut. I received my commission as such severall days ago. I suppose that I will have to muster in for three years from the date of my commission, but it wont make only a few days or rather months difference and again Gen. Grant / may decide that when an officer or private is promoted and has served his three years the Govt cannot hold him if he wants to resign. You see the War Dept issued an order that when an officer or enlisted man received a commission or was promoted, he would have to muster in for three years more from the date of that promotion. well there were a great many officers that had served their two years and prehaps more, who had received commissions but would not except them or muster in again on those conditions set forth in that circular from the War Dept. and then they complained to the President, who refered the whole matter to Gen. Grant. I think that he will decide in their favor. the report is around to / night that he has decided in our favor. This matter was refered to him some time ago by the President. If he does decide this way then I can resign any time after the 1^st of next October for the plea that I have served my three years. You see that I have not been regularly discharged from the U.S. service but it was for the purpose, or rather on conditions, that I should excepted my commission.

 

            Well I hope he will decide this way so if any thing should happen I could get out as it is now, hardly nothing anything will get an officer out of the service. They will put him into the Veteran Reserve Corps first.

 

It has been very quiet all around the lines for the past week excepting the continual picket fireing in front of the 2 Corps on our front it is said the Regt. Quartermasters have been ordered up to their Regiments. they have been back to the rear all of the time. this looks as if we were going to stay here & hold this position. we have strengthened our forts so artillery can not do them much harm my foot has stoped discharging so bad as it did a while ago you recollect that one place [faded] the joint that would not get well that was one great running sore. I could hardly walk it was swollen so bad I could not bend the joint ankle only a very little nor get on my foot it is healing very rapidly now and I can go on my foot I walk very well but it makes me /

 

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limp some—I think it was brought on by over doing it when we moved over here to the left we marched all the morning (3 AM) & forenoon of the 18^th and then went [faded] into that fight which saved the 5 Corps and then it rained all of the time so my foot was wet for a week or more and then when we were charging on the rebels through a piece of woods I hurt my foot very badly in some vines at some [obscured] I guess that it will come out [faded] write to Hiram in a few days [faded] you must give my best respects to all who enquire love to all [faded] Yours as ever     Frank

 

Uncle, if you see Capt Turner give him my respects and tell him that I am expecting a letter from him if he can write

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