Mollie E. Bowen to Francis C. Miller, 20 February 1865
Give my kind regards to Agnes, and accept my best wishes for yourself, and write soon to your friend                                     Mollie.
 
                                                                                                Home. February 20th 1865
                                                                                                            Monday Afternoon
 
My Friend Frank,
                                    I wrote to you in answer to one which I received from you on the 1st, some time ago—on the 6th. But as I had forgotten the change of address, very likely you have not received it. I at first thought I would wait until you would write before writing again, but perhaps you have forgotten the compact we made while you were in the army,—not to wait longer than two weeks without writing no matter whether we got an answer or not. Or perhaps you have to write so often to your dear Agnes that you have not time to write oftener to your other correspondents than the law requires. Eh!/
 
If that is your excuse, I cannot find it in my heart to chide you, for I can forgive neglect in anyone sooner than in a lover, and especially an accepted one.
 
Do you know—Frank—that I have a strange desire to see your affianced bride. Can you not prevail on her to grant you a photo to send to me to put beside yours in my album. True—the book is overflowing, but then I would take some out to make room for it. And I have a much stronger desire to see my friend Frank before he leaves the state of single-blessedness. I think it would do me good to have a good, long talk with you. Can you not prevail on the government to transport you to Johnstown for a few days? But you must keep in memory that I—at least—claim a share of the pleasure in your bridal tour or (bridle tower).
The time is approaching nearer and I shall expect you to send me full particulars of all the arrangements beforehand./
 
My heart is very sad today, and I almost feared to commence to write for fear I would impress too much of my sadness on your mind, and make you unhappy through sympathy. My affairs are still in an unsettled condition, as I am in no hurry to bring them to a conclusion. If you have received the letter which I sent to the Washington P.O. you will have something of an insight into my feelings. But the day is bright and beautiful, and I must throw aside all gloomy thoughts, and try to enter into its sunny spirit.
 
My health is good and almost entirely [?]. Anna is in usual health, and better spirits, as she is hoping by the exchange of prisoners to hear something from her dear Rob.—perhaps see him again. It is almost a vain hope—still she will cherish it—she is so hopeful naturally, always trying to look on the brightest side. She is much obliged for the trouble you took for her, and the note which she sent received prompt attention and she is looking now for her papers every day.
1248
DATABASE CONTENT
(1248)DL0170.13620Letters1865-02-20

Letter From Mollie E. Bowen, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, February 20, 1865, to Sergeant Francis C. Miller, 50th New York Engineers, Washington, D.C.; Accompanied by Cover


Tags: Courtship, Mail, Marriages, Photographs, Prisoner Exchanges, Prisoners of War, Sadness, Weather

People - Records: 2

  • (476) [recipient] ~ Miller, Francis Carpenter
  • (482) [writer] ~ Bowen, Mollie E. ~ Pike, Mollie

Places - Records: 2

  • (75) [destination] ~ Washington, DC
  • (284) [origination] ~ Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania

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SOURCES

Mollie E. Bowen to Francis C. Miller, 20 February 1865, DL0170.136, Nau Collection