Camp Near Jackson Tenn

                                                                                                            January 29^th 1863

 

My Dear Fanny

                                    Your letter of the 18^th ultimo was received yesterday. I need not tell you of the pleasure I enjoyed in once more hearing from you and of knowing that you were all well and enjoying yourself so much. I heard of you through Glen— a few days before I received your letter. G. said that Nellie wrote “Tell Frank that Fanny is well and as sweet as a pink and as good as ever” it was welcome news I tell you. she also wrote that you with a number of others were there a short time before and she thought enjoyed your-selves pretty well. When Glen— gets a letter from home he generally comes up to my tent and rehearses the principal points if there is news, and I do the same with him, so that when we receive our mail with any regularity, we hear from W— quite often, so that we keep our spirits up pretty well.

 

            Then Mr Consolus has been and gone and done it has he. I wish them much joy and a long life of happiness Miss B— I think was a very good as well as fine Lady. he may well be proud of her

 

            We are having beautiful weather to-day the sun shines warm and pleasant, and one might well think that the approach of spring is near at hand. but in this / this climate the weather is very uncertain. tomorrow may be as cold and blustering as today is warm and pleasant. we have not a particle of snow, but the mud is up to the second rail on the fences. dont you think soldering delightful business under such circumstances. we have been expecting marching orders for some time but have not received them yet. we are expecting to go to Memphis. I like the idea very well. Memphis is a fine place to camp as we have more advantages there. we live much better and have things more to our liking than at any other place we have been. we also have regular communication north an item which we prize very highly.

 

            We hear through the papers which occasionally stray into our camp and through other scourses, of the grumblings of the north and of the dissatisfaction growing among the people. I think it is not to be wondered at, with such an army in the field and at such an enormus expense to the Government. it is strange that no more can be accomplished than there has been. it all through the imbicility of our officers it was hard for me to believe at first that we had such consumate scoundrels in command of our forces as we have, but circumstances that have come under my personal knowledge have led me to believe that such is the fact althoug this will not do to talk very loud here as long as we are under their immediate command our Regimental and Brigade officers are fine men especially our Col and have the welfair of our cause at heart, but there are those who are higher in authority who I consider to be as Treacherous to our cause as some / of the enemy themselves

 

            Jany 31^st. You will preceive that it has been two days since I commenced this letter, but during the time I have been so busy that I have been unable to finish it. we have finally received marching orders and part of our Reg^mt has already gone this morning. we received marching orders for half of our Reg^mt last night and I suppose they are now on their way to Memphis we go by cars so that we shall not have a very hard time I guess. I expect that when we all get to Memphis we shall receive marching orders for Vicksburg. our whole campaign has thus far prooved an entirely failure in my mind, but how soon we shall be allowed to accomplish anything the Lord only knows. but I am willing to wait as paitently as possible and see what the end will be. It is provoking Fanny to be moved around as we are sometimes for instance, I had just received a letter from you with a good prospect of receiving more since you had found out where I was, when the order came to move, and now probably I shall get no more for weeks. but I suppose when I return we will enjoy ourselves enough better to pay for all this long seperation and disapointments which we have to endure now without complaint I suppose dear Fanny that it is all for the best, and that there is a just providence watching over us and ruling all things for our good. Fanny you say you are no christian. I believe you are I know your influence for good is greate especially over one who is very liable to go astray especially when temptation’s are thrown around him so thick as they are here. but dear Fanny I must close for this time as it is now late so good by and may the choisest blessings of our heavenly Father rest on you is the prayer of

                                                                        Your    Frank. M. G

 

P S. Please direct to me as before (via Cairo)

 

Glen— has gone to Memphis. he is well and would send his love to Nellie and all the rest of you if here

SOURCES