City Point. Va             June 19^th 1864

 

                                    My Dear Agnes

 

                        this beautiful sabbath evening I am seated to write my regular weekly letter this is a privilage I did not expect to have but fortune seems to favor me. some times since I wrote my last one I have seen some hard service and was very unwell two or three days but to night I am well and in good spirits on last sabbath after I had written to you we were ordered up the James river to lay a very long bridge but we did not arrive at the point where the bridge was put down until tuesday morning near ten AM we then went to work by ten at night the same day we had the James bridged and on wednesday morning very early the army of the Potomac moved over to the south side and before dark a portion of them were engaged in battle but the entire army were three days crossing which kept us on duty all that/time day and night but we did our duty without grumbling. on friday night we took up our Bridge and on saturday morning we were here by ten AM we have went into camp here and will lay here until we have to lay another bridge some where in seeing the whole army cross, I only seen one man I knew, the larger portion of the cavalry did not cross they left the army of the potomac and joined General hunter in western Va. so I was disappointed for I expected to see my brother. to day we have been laying some short bridges to assist in unloading comisary stores. so I have been to busy to write in the early part of the day but I know Dear Agnes is anxious to hear from one who loves her with all his heart and who hopes to know ere long that his love is returned with a heart that is true and a hand that is ready to welcome him home from the battle field. I am now looking forward with an anxious heart to the time when I will be once more a free man, but I look not only for my self but I want to very soon see the time when evry soldier can be free and when our country can boast of freedom from/the north to the extreme south I long for this war to close it is awful to see the suffering that is endured there is thousands of wounded here at present was wounded on friday and yesterday at and near Petersburg the Ambulance trains are bringing them in to put them on board boats to send them to the citties north I have seen none as yet that I knew we can hear the fighting here quite plain we are only nine miles from our front lines but if we never get closer than that we shall never be in any danger. I am some what tired and sleepy as I have not had much rest for several days and nights. I will beg leave to close for the present hoping Dear Agnes will not think of me for so doing. I received your last on to day a week ago. we now get our mail regular as we are close by General Grants head quarters. I feel safe as long as I am well and so far from danger as I am to night I do not think we will be called on to go near the front as they have all of our regiment but our own company & they also have the regular batallion which is some four hundred strong. I will now close my love to one & all. but to you Dear Agnes I send my sincere love from your own true Affectionate lover

                                                            F C Miller to Agnes

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