Camp opposite Fredericksburg, Va

                                                                                    Sabbath Morning May 18^th 1862.

 

My Darling Wife

                        It is a beautiful morning rather warm however. I rather expected to receive a letter this morning but it did’nt come. I wrote you a letter Friday Morning Friday afternoon I drilled the company. At Dress parade we had one of the sad sights of a soldiers life a man drummed out of camp. This is the second case we have had & I will give you a description of the “Modus operandi” The mans name was Jullien of Co “G”. his offence stealing some guns & selling them & then running away & enlisting in another regiment under an assumed name. The regiment is brought into close column by division & the man brought up & his sentence read to him in hearing of the whole regiment which in this case was that he be dishonorably discharged from the service of the U.S. drummed out of camp and confined in the penitentiary at Washington for five years. The Regiment is then deployed into line. The prisoner taken to the extreme left two fifers & two drummers strike up the “Rogues March” & the poor devil surrounded by/ Guards with guns at Charge & Bayonet is marched the whole length of the line & down the rear to that most tantalizing time & from there to the guard house to await transportation to prison.

 

            Yesterday I was officer of the guard for the first time in a long while & had a very comfortable time of it. They have built a large arbor of pines & cedar for protection from the sun & I got hold of a pretty good novel & passed away the day reading. It was a beautiful evening & made me some homesick. I sat up till after the grand rounds after 12 & then stole off & got 4 hours sleep Bully for me.

 

            There is more talk this morning that we will move soon because each man has been ordered to have an extra pair of shoes & stockings

 

            Have just been to dinner—Beefsteak, potatoes with gravy & some gingerbread & cheese for dessert. Smith has been unwell for some days. Most every one has a touch of something or other since we have been here, but I have been very been very fortunate.—There are some immense thunder heads looming up in the west & I think we will have some showers this afternoon/ to cool the air. Our camp is a perfect [?] everything swept up & carried off & streets just like a floor—

 

Well Darling shall we go to Episcopal or Methodist Church this afternoon. Just which you say. I guess though its so warm we had’nt better go. we will raise the windows & close the blinds & have a cosy time of it. after sundown we will walk up to Hamps & get them & take a walk somewhere.—

 

            Monday morning—I have just received your letter written the 15^th with one from Father & Aunt Mary. They done me a power of good. I have taken a little cold & it has settled in my face & head & I don’t feel very scrumptious. Father dont say any thing about the clothes I ordered from Peat I suppose he received the letter I wrote telling about them.

 

            The samples for shirts would do very well I would like some blue small check like the pink

 

            We shall undoubtedly move in a day or two but cant tell exactly when. I presume on toward Richmond. As my teeth are troubling me I must close this & will try & do better hereafter—Kiss the Children/

Many times     With your Husband heartfelt love

 

I bid you Good Morning                    

                                                Fred

 

Tell Aunt Mary I will be much obliged of she

will put in a line often            Love to all

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