Francis M. Guernsey to Frances E. Doty, 11 October 1862
Camp Bragg Oct 11
Oshkosh Wis
Dear Fannie
It is saturday eve and after a hard days work I have seated myself in my bunk on the straw with a board in my lap for a table, to write a few lines to you. there is a little of every thing going on in the barracks as I write so you must forgive all mistakes that I make.
I reached camp the evening after I left W— about dark I had been in camp only a few minutes when I was ordered out on duty & had to go. I did not like the idea very well but it would not do to complain so I put on as pretty a face as possible & went. I found Mr Glendening on the boat when / I got to the Landing. also a part of the squad that came up with me I did not care much for company that morning though, I should rather have been alone. Fanny I believe I had rather fight a hard battle than to go through what I did that morning I know I should suffer less mentally than I did then. I dont know when I have parted with friends with so much regret perhaps it was because I have none more dear to me. if it were not for the hope of meeting again in the future I dont think I could well reconcile myself to it, but Fanny we must hope for the best and trust in a higher power than mans. if we do not meet again on earth I hope we may meet in a better world than this. I think that soldiering is going to agree with me / pretty well I have as yet been well all the while though some of our boys are very sick and in the hospital there has been so much wet weather lately that many have taken a severe cold and in some cases has thrown them into intermitant fever and one man is very sick. Mr Baldwin was down here last wednsday and met with very good success he wanted me to write him before the Regiment left and gave me the initials of his name but I have forgotten them I wish you would write me them if you know them.
We are expecting orders to leave every day the Col. told us a few nights since that we were intrusted with a very important mission and one that if successful would be an honor to ourselves / and to our State. the nature of the mission he did not let us know but gave us to understand that we should go south & see some hard fighting and hard fare. we have got a Regiment that will follow the Col. where-ever he will lead us. but it is getting late and I must close now Fanny you must excuse all mistakes for I have written in a perfect hub-bub. there has been a little of every thing going on. please write soon. love to you all & believe me as ever your friend
Frank M G
P S Please direct to
Sergt Maj F M Guernsey
Camp Bragg
Oshkosh
Wis
my mail has been changed so that it is nescessary to direct as above
1814
DATABASE CONTENT
(1814) | DL0301.028 | 55 | Letters | 1862-10-11 |
Letter From First Lieutenant Frank M. Guernsey, 32nd Wisconsin Infantry, Camp Bragg, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 11, 1862, to Fannie
Tags: Camp/Lodging, Hospitals, Illnesses, Loneliness, Mail, Religion, Ships/Boats, Weather
People - Records: 2
- (820) [writer] ~ Guernsey, Francis M.
- (822) [recipient] ~ Doty, Frances Eugenia ~ Guernsey, Frances Eugenia
Places - Records: 1
- (769) [origination] ~ Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin
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SOURCES
Francis M. Guernsey to Frances E. Doty, 11 October 1862, DL0301.028, Nau Collection