Head Quarters Engineer Brigade

                                                                        Washington DC Aug 9^th 1863

 

                                                            Dear Agnes

                                    this beautiful sabbath evening I take the pleasure to answer your kind and welcome missive which came to hand yesterday but as I did not get time to write until night I concluded to wait until to day to write for then you know I would write whether I was getting a letter or not but I am happy to be answering your letter I can find more pleasure in answering your letters than I can in anything els but oh how much more pleasure could I find in being seated by your side and having a good sociable chat but as that cannot be I will try to content my self with the pen. I am glad to hear that your folks are all well but very sorry to know that Aunt Charlotte has been made to mourn the loss of her sister but Agnes it may be well As you say she has been relieved from a world of trouble and sorrow/

 

a cruel husband is a sin on earth and a tyrant to any family. but I am happy to say such has never been the case in our family and hope it never will be the weather is very warm here but we are out working march and drill but very little one hour and a half in the morning and the same in the afternoon it is just enough for good exercise so we are now taking comfort we live well and are recruiting up finely but we do not expect it will last long the companies are all here it being the first time we have been together for over a year

 

I believe they intend filling up our regiment with conscripts to eighteen hundred strong then we will have a very large regiment the largest in the service I hope it will be done for it will lighten the work on very many of us a great deal and yet I do not like to see drafted men in our regiment for we have some men who will have no mercy on them but not so with me I can treat them as men and as soldiers I am not partial but go in for what is right and just so I never have any trouble well Dear Agnes the shades of evening are closing around me the sun is just sinking/behind the western hills it looks beautiful from our camp as we have to look directly over the city and also over our grand old capitol which is still building the large dome is reared far up from the ground but it is so large it does not look as high as it is. I was down in the city yesterday the most of the day I had some photographs taken but they are not finished so I cannot send you one this time but will send you one in my next letter if you wish it I believe you spoke to me about one did you not I will send you one and run the risk of you wanting it. we are now taking our supper I will tell you we have coffee and apple sauce and bread it is a light supper but plenty for a supper I am well satisfied and I guess all are with few exceptions some of the men would not be satisfied I will now bring my letter to a close as I will have to get ready for church here in camp hoping this may find all in the enjoyment of health my love to your mother Aunt C Dan and remember Maggie and husband also others of my friends. but in much affection my love to one whom I love from F C Miller

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