Head Quarters

                                                                                    Engineer Brigade

                                                                                                Near Falmouth Va

                                                                                                            May 24^th 1863

 

                                                this is sabbath morning and I am seated to reply to your thrice welcome letter which came to hand on last evening it found me well as usual and in good spirits I was to visit the 137^th Regt [?] yesterday to day they start for home they are nine month men lucky fellows. they have never been in a fight but it is not their fault. well Dear Agnes there is no news of any importance in the army there seems to be a perfect lull in all the movements of the army at present I do not know what to think of this war at the present time it appears to me that our head men/care but very little about closing this war. they seem to think the loss of human life a small matter. but I look forward for the time when I will not be a subject of military law and a pupil of military men but as it is I get along very well I have never had any trouble thus far I have been used well by those who have authority over me and as for the men in the company they have used me exceeding well I can say I have not an enemy in this regiment. but I believe I have given no cause as yet for an enemy here and I never wish to while I am in the service I have just took leave of one of our company he has been discharged for disability he has been in our company for about one year but during that time he has not done over three months duty poor fellow I think his days are short on earth he has the fatal disease of consumption he may last a few months after his return home but it will be/a consolation to his friends to see him return home alive and also to him self. Agnes how I would love to accompany you this beautiful sabbath morning to church after which a stroll through your flowers would be to me so pleasant but Dear Agnes your company would be pleasant to me let it be where it might were it in ever so desolate a place if I were permited to sit by your side I would be happy but we must look forward to the future and hope for the best we may yet live to make each other happy when we will not be separated until death calls for his own. you were asking what I wanted with so many photographs well Agnes I do not want the whole of them but perhaps some of your friends would like one but please send me two out of the six and just as soon as I get where I can get mine taken I will send you two in return but Agnes I am where it is impossible to get a likeness or a photograph taken/but I will send you a good one when I get an opportunity to have one taken well Dear Agnes evrything is so dull here I can scarcely compose enough to fill one small sheet but were I to be seated in the hall door by your side these beautiful evenings I could tell you enough to fill a small octavo pamphlet the past brings to me very often the peace of mind to hope for the happiness of the future I some times almost imagine me clasping your warm hand but alas what a change comes over my feelings when I think how far we are a part. well Agnes I will close for this time my love to your mother Aunt C Dan and remember me to Maggie her husband and others

write soon again

 

                                    to you is the sincere love of

                        my heart which you are truly worthy

                                    of         your love         F C Miller

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