Camp Pioneer Corps

                        1^st Brigade 2^nd Div. 12^th Army Corps

                                                                        Bridgeport Alabama Feb. 17^th/64

 

Dr Rohrer Esq.

                        Respected Friend

                                                            It being a considerable length of time since I have written to you, having a fiew leisure moments this morning, I shall spend the same in penning a fiew lines, informing you that I am well with the Exception of the Cold which is a common thing in this section, owing to the sudden changes in the weather. as a general thing we have verry pleasant weather. in fact it is so much so that a person is quite Comfortable in the shirt sleeves. again it will change in the course of two hours, that a person can stand it quite handy to have a great coat on, and then be cold at that when away from fire. Yesterday and last night was verry cold, but is moderating some this morning. As a general thing it is pretty healthy here. there is a fiew cases of Small Pox in the Hospital. As yet there has none of our regiment had them. we have pretty Easy times just now. nothing to do & Plenty to eat. the Boys in the regt have it pretty hard, the Guard duty being verry heavy. We have all seen some pretty rough times since we have left the Army of the Potomac. While we were out in the front, “At Chattanooga” they tried to starve us, or at least it appeard so. but they couldn’t come it as they only gave us half rations & about half the time not that. On an average we drew about quarter rations. When we got too hard up for something to Eat, we would make a raid on some Wagon train that was loaded with crackers. The reason why we were so short of rations was because we hadent Enough of transportation to bring them up. since the cars runs clear through rations are plenty there./

 

Feb 18^th 1664. I was sorry to hear of your Illness which I understand was verry severe. But I was pleased to learn in the last letter that I recd from Lydia that you were recovering. I hope you may continue to recover untill you are blesse with perfect health again. I was pretty sick for about two weeks, since we have been at this place. I am still pretty weak other ways I am well Enough again.

 

News of importance is scarce. We hear some hundred different reports dayly, as to how tired the rebs are getting tired of the rebellion about the one hundreth part of such reports may be Credited. But judging from what I see myself I am satisfied that the war will soon come to a close. The Presidents Amnesty Proclamation has had a pretty good effect through the south. There is not a day hardly but what we can see from Fifty to two hundred rebel deserters or refugees going north on the Cars. there is one refugee camp here with some five hundred refugees in of all ages from children of two weeks up to old men and women of 60 years. The citizens here all draw rations from the Government. ration day you can see women coming in for their rations in droves of from 8 to 20, the principal part of their husbands are in the rebel service. Here is where you can see the Aristocracy of the south, but I cant see where the Aristocracy comes in. the women put me in mind of these Shitepokes that keep along tho. they are long and slim, and a great deal dirtyer looking than northern hogs. there is not one out of a hundred but what chew tobacco or snuff. Upon the whole I think they would make verry disagreeable Companions to sleep with. I think it would be verry advisable for Philip Hillbish & his Copperhead Brethren to come down and pay their Southern Sisters a visit. I know they would meet with a warm reception Especialy if they would bring plety of/ tobacco along. But Enough of this.

 

There is a large boat yard here. they build about two steam boats per month. There was one Launched not long since that is called the White Star in honor of our Division for the galantry in the late battle around Chattanooga. Here I will just mention that our badge is a white star. Evry man in the Division wears one Eith on his hat.

 

The boys in our Company from about M^cKees are all well & send their best respect to you.

 

Give my kindest regards to all who may Enquire

 

I must close hoping to hear from you soon

 

            I am sir yours Truely

                                                            Francis W Wallace

 

Write soon if you are well enough to do so & give me all the news.

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