Head Quarters Co E 38 Wis. Vol.

March 12. 1865

 

My Dear Friends.

                        Yours of the 6^th reached me this evening and right glad was I to get it. I am so sorry that I disappointed you but I could not help it. I dont know who was disappointed most you or I. my application went up twice and came back dissaproved both times. I have put another in Hd. Qurs. of the Regiment, the Col. says he will forward them at the first opportunity but I dont think they will meet with any better success than the others, but I hope they will. I have given up all hopes of getting a leave this winter or rather this spring. I had about made / up my mind that I was going to have a chance to visit you but you can see that there is no use of relying upon anything as being certain here in this Army.

 

            What was the matter that Peter "my little Corpl" did not stop longer. I guess you have seen him before this. I shall look for him tomorrow evening or Tuesday. I shall go down and see the Colonel in the morning and see what he can do to put my papers through again. I mean to try as long as there is any hope of success.

 

            We are haveing prety quiet times around here once in a while they think up to Corps Headquarters that the Rebels are leaveing Petersburg and we / will receive orders for 60 rounds of amunition per man with four day's rations in haversack, but the "Johnies" wont go, so we remain in camp waiting patiently for the time to come for us to start for Petersburg. I am afraid that Sherman will take the place after all this "Army of the Potomac" has "captured" it so often. Rebel deserters all report the same thing, that they (the Rebs) are moveing their heavy guns out of these works and putting light field pieces in their places. We have been haveing considerable rain so any move on our part is impossible, the roads are so muddy now that we can hardly get around. We have about a week of rainy / weather, and then about 2 days of pleasant. There is nothing special going on. every pleasant day we have drill if we can get men enough that are off from duty to drill, but then "picketing" is the most pleasant of all (I mean disagreeable). I was on the other day, had charge of our whole Brigade line. The line is over 1½ miles long. There are six Regiments in the Brigade. I had to go along the line and see that the men were doing their duty and that the Johnies were not doing any thing unusual. The pickets on both sides are on quite good terms. there is no fireing but in front of the 8^th Michigan which is on our extream right. There a person has to look out for a stray bullet / which may happen to be flying over. the night I was on before this, there was one man killed and one wounded in that Regt. but I have not told you yet where the fun comes in on picket. It is when one has charge of the line to wade through mud and water which is over knee deep and no way of getting around it either. Thanks to my high top boots I did not quite lose sight of them in going the rounds.

 

            Well I hope by the time this reaches you I may be on my way home but dont expect me for I dont expect that good luck, but as I said before I shall try hard. You must excuse this as I have got two more letters to write this evening. Give my best respects to all who may enquire for this "Lieutenant" Write soon and dont wait for me to "report in person". Again          

         

Yours as ever.

Frank.

 

Appleton Wis.                                     

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