Engineer Depot            Washington D C

                                                                                                                        Jan 17^th 1864

 

                        My Dear Agnes

                                                this beautiful sabbath morning I take the pleasure to answer your more than welcome letter which I received on the 14^th ult I am much pleased to hear the good news that all are well I would have written sooner but I am now kept pretty busy I am not in the shop at present I am drilling the new recruits and after tomorrow I will have to act orderly of the company for one month as the orderly is going home on furlough he has reenlisted there has twenty four of our company reenlisted and start home tomorrow which leaves us thirty odd men for duty and only leaves two sergeants here my self and one other and as I have to drill the new men four hours per day and tend to the other duties of the company I will not have much time to play but I will find time to write to Agnes evry Sunday if not oftener I am sorry to hear you say your Christmas was not pleasant/but I am glad you have had the pleasure of spending a happy newyears day and also a few pleasant days after it had passed. you can imagine no one could have shared in your pleasures more willingly than my self but Dear Agnes it gives me joy to know my friends and those whom I hold in estimation more dear than friends has been permitted to enjoy them selves so hapily though I have my self been deprived of many enjoyments. you know I never wish my friends to be situated as I am but look up with a cheerful heart I think I hear you say the time is not long when if we are spared we can meet each other and enjoy our happiness together it is your desire that I must not come home in disguise well I will adhere to your wish if I am spared and meet you the same Frank as I left you when I last spent the evening with you I remember evry circumstance that transpired during the evening and I well remember when I heard the whistle of the train that was to convey me from you I remember just how you looked and when rising to my feet to bid you a farewell I could see the color come and then leave your cheeks again and from that hour Dear Agnes I have loved you more than I have ever loved even my self/

 

it was a task for me to part but I knew my duty to my country and knew I must leave friends and all that was dear to me behind but there is a change now I now live in hopes of returning to see my friends and one whom I love more than a friend. if I live to come home I will come in citizens dress and will have my whiskers trimmed and mustach shaved off. you will allow me to have that done wont you. or do you want me to come just as I am when I am free. I will come either way I had a letter from my sister a few days ago she told me she had heard from my Brother who is here in the army he has reenlisted. I also had a letter from my Brothers wife in Williamsport. she told me plenty of news she knows I used to go to Baltimore to see a young lady and knows also that I do not go there any more so she wants to know where I am paying my addresses at present so I told her I was writing to all who would answer any letters and she wants me to write to a young lady whom she thinks I would like but I cant see it. she does not know I am engaged to one whom I can more than like. one whom I already love. I have not told one of my friends yet that I am engaged and will not until I am ready to be united both in hand and heart with you know who. I will now close hoping soon to hear/ from my loving Agnes

 

                        your true lover            Frank Miller                my love to all

SOURCES