Head Quarters Engineer Brigade

                                                                                    Washington D.C. Aug 13^th 1863

 

                                                            Dear Agnes

 

                                    this beautiful afternoon I again take great pleasure in answering one of your ever welcome letters which I have just read I am very much pleased with it agnes it is indeed a comfort to me to receive a letter from you one who I esteem so highly the present finds me taking much comfort I am in my usual good health hoping this may find my friends enjoying the same great blessing we are resting from our past few months labors a rest which we needed and I think a better time could not have been choosen than the present for the weather has been intensly hot all we have done since we came here is drill three hours per day from 7 until 8 in the forenoon and from 4 until 6 in the afternoon which is just enough to make us feel well. I am glad that we are resting here the men all seem so lively and contented. yet all are anxious to be on the move again but when our army moves again I think it will be with a determination to close/this rebellion it is being well organized and the small regiments are very fast filling up and in the course of a few weeks the regiments that only numbered from two hundred to three hundred will be from eight hundred to a thousand strong which will make a wide difference in our army our own regiment is to be filled up too which will make the laborious work light on all of us. but I would much rather those who are to fill our ranks were volunteers in stead of conscripts as the volunteer appears to do his duty cheerfully but perhaps those who are compelled to come will do as well I only hope they will for if so it will give satisfaction to those who will command them and I am sure it will be much better for them selves. well Dear Agnes I suppose you have a letter from me by this time which was written on sunday last in which I spoke of my Brother or at least I think I did but if not I will say in this the last time I seen him was in july previous to our leaving Harpersferry he was then well and in good cheer. but I seldom ever meet him otherwise as he says some times he does not get time to be gloomy or sick he is on the go most of his time but such is his routine so he is in the post that suits him it is somewhat my nature too but I can content myself to rest and to stay where I am obliged too./

 

            but Dear Agnes there is one place and one person with whom I could be contented to stay with you well know who it is as for the place that would be where ever the person is. I long to meet you and enjoy your society it would be all I can desire excepting one thing more to make me happy this one thing is a good cristian while then enjoying happiness of your society I would know I was enjoying the happiness of all that earth and heaven could give while life lasted. Agnes I am glad you take such a lively interest in the church to which you belong it has always been my choice as also the choice of those who have departed this life with a lively hope of joining the church triumphant. I speak of a good father and a dear cherished mother. you cannot imagine my feelings when I silently reflect over the past the last words of my much loved mother were for her children to meet her where sorrow never comes to the peaceful heart. Oh that I could be as it is the desire of my heart. but I will try to do better and oftener think of those I loved most in years that are gone by as well as those I now love well I have been reflecting pretty deeply and writing just as I have felt hoping I have not said too much on the subject on which my mind has often wandered/

 

I now will close as it is near drill time and the hour has passed away very quick I send you in this what you have long looked for and what has long been promised to you my photograph also a card containing my address

 

my love to your Mother Aunt C. Dan Maggie

and all with whom I am acquainted

            from your own true love

                        Francis C Miller to Agnes

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