Johnstown March 23^rd 1864

                                                                                     Wednesday

 

My Friend Frank.

                                                This beautiful spring morning I seat myself to answer your letter which should have been answered a week ago. But as I told you in the paper which I sent you I have been sick, was confined to the house for more than a week, part of the time to my bed, but am much better now, and walked over across the bridge yesterday for the first. Today I felt pretty near to well as usual, only a little weak.

            I trust you have fully recovered long ere this. It must be hard to be sick in camp with no woman’s hand to minister to your wants, nor to bathe your aching head. Although I am one of the sex myself/I know that her gentle hand is generally preferable in the sickroom.

 

From the news which comes floating on the wires from Washington, it would appear that you will soon have to be on the move again. I shall watch the movements of the “Engineer Corps” with a new interest. If I remember rightly, you have not been in active service since that fatal battle of Fredericksburg which deprived Anna of a husband, and me of a dear brother, the only real one I have ever had. I have some friends who have by their kindness to me won a place in my heart such as a brother would occupy if I was blessed with one.

 

            There was one whom I was proud to call “brother” who sadly betrayed my confidence in him by falling below the estimate I had set of his character. But, I am thankful to be able to say that he is the only one in whom I have been disappointed.

 

            There is no one who prizes a true, warm friend more highly than I do./

 

            I do not care very much for the general society. I enjoy myself much better to have a few tried friends drop in and spend the evening. I also esteem it a privelege to sit down and converse by the medium of pen, ink and paper. I don’t often tire of correspondence. I believe I should be very unhappy if anything should occur which would deprive me of the pleasure of writing. But I am taking up the whole sheet writing about myself. I beg pardon. You wish to know what is the name of the lady who wishes to correspond with “Corporal” Co. G. It is “Miss Annie S. Ebbert.” I have the first letter ready and I think will mail tomorrow. But you must not betray me. I do not know his name, but will be glad if it is the one you mention. If you can find out if he is a person worthy of opening a correspondence with I will be much obliged. You might ask him if he knew the lady without giving him any farther information. All are in usual health but Mollie,/

 

P.S. If you should write before you receive this, I will wait till you write again.

                                                                                                            M.E.B.

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