Head Quarters Engineer Brigade

                                                                                                Near Falmouth Va

                                                                                                            June 4^th 1863

 

                                                                                                Dear Agnes

 

            it is now nine oclock and I find it a great pleasure to be seated in my tent to reply to your welcome letters both of which I received this evening. I say welcome. yes Agnes they are more than welcome to me your letters Agnes are to me more comfort than any thing els here in the army. you say you often seat your self in the door where we in former days have spent some very happy hours. I say we. I trust they were happy to you for as I was at first a stranger to you. but Agnes in your noble countenance I could read that trueness of heart which since/then I have welled learned you possess well do I remember our first meeting and our introduction you had been out berrying with Kate M. then could I ever forget the evening you came and stood by my side in the door you asked if I were not lonesome truly I was lonesome until you spoke to me. then Agnes I was not lonesome from that evening. while I was boarding with your mother there is one in your house agnes that always met me with a smile can you guess who it is. well I trust you can. and I hope we shall soon meet Dear Agnes when we can return each others smiles again. how often after my tent mate lies down at night do I sit in the door of my tent and let my thoughts wander back on the evenings which we have spent together. it is a real comfort for me when the evening is pleasant and the moon is bright to be seated in my tent door and watch the stars and contemplate on the works/of nature. but yet there is one thing which would make me feel much more happy. it is this or this thought which enters my mind so often. now if I were seated by the side of Agnes and we were both watching the stars as they seem to dance so gaily on then come through the [?] sky how happy then would I be. but as this can not be yet a while we will hope for the best and trust in him who doeth all things well.

 

                        you wished my advice as to your learning a trade. well it is simply this it is well for any young lady to have a trade but one placed in your situation, Agnes, I hardly know what advice to give you. shall I say let your mother choose for you. I trust she is competent of choosing and with this advice I trust you will be content. to day we have been paid two months pay which came very acceptible to us to some it is of no use for they make/very bad use of it some spend it for luggeres which costs them an enormous price while others gamble their money away in different ways as for my self the greater part of mine I send where if I ever live to get home it will do me some good I always keep enough so if any thing happens to me I am prepared for it. well Agnes I am much pleased with those photographs I think they are very good and just as soon as I have an opportunity I will have mine taken and send it to you I am in good health and sincerely hope when you receive this you may all enjoy the same great blessing. my love to your mother Aunt C. and my young acquaintences.

            except the love of your true lover

 

                        to Agnes V from her lover

                                    F C Miller

                        write often fare well for the present

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