Camp at the Navy Yard Memphis Tenn

                                                                                                  Feby 10^th 1863

 

            My Dear Fannie

                                    Since writing you before, we have again been on the move and have at last got settled I hope, for a while at least. I last wrote you I believe from our camp near Jackson just before we started for Memphis. We came on the cars from Jackson and went into camp about four miles from the city where we remained one week. but Genl Hamilton hearing so good reports of our Reg^mt ordered us into the city to do Provost Guard duty. it is a situation much coveted by the troops in this vicinity and considered an honorable position, as none but the best Regiments are ever ordered for this duty. I suppose you think that “Self praise goes but a little ways” but I do not wish to bragg when I say that we have got one of the best Regiments in the service, that is, the best drilled and disciplined to be sure our courage has never been tested at the cannon’s mouth but I believe if the time ever does come when it is nescessary for the 32^nd to take her part in battle she will not proove recreant to the trust which has been reposed in her.

 

            Our Reg^mt for the first time since we left Camp Bragg are quartered in a building, not tents but a real building made of brick. the change from / sleeping on the cold damp ground to a good bed on the soft side of a board does not appear to make the boys look any the more sickly. the Regimental quarters are in a very long brick building, about six or eight hundred feet long I should think. it was formerly used as a Depot building and machine shop and makes splendid quarters for the men. Fanny I wish you could just step into my quarters this evening and see how pleasantly we are situated here. the Head Quarters are in a small white house. there are four rooms below and four above. the Adjutant and myself & Clerk ocupy one of the lower and one of the uper front rooms the room on the first floor we use as an office and the other as our sleeping apartment. we have got a nice coal grate in the office, and evenings it is very cozy I tell you. all that is nescessary to make us very happy is the presence of our absent loved ones if we could only see their smiling faces and talk a while with them if it was only occasionally we should be as happy as kings. we have got used to such hard fair and to being out and exposed so much that our present position seemes almost a palace to us. I suppose our marching is done for a while and the danger of meeting the enemy in battle is past, until we take the field again, but Fanny of all the God-forsaken Cities in America I believe this is the worst it is nearly as bad as our reports of Richmond I will tell you of one or two instances. one of our Lieut who was on Provost Guard last night told me of an incident that happened under his observation. he had a Sergeant and one private Patroling one of the streets in his ward (the Guards receive instructions to arrest all soldiers officers or privates found on the streets after ten oclock at night.) they saw eight soldiers come out of a house at a late hour of night and of course they arrested them. While on the way to the guard house one of the prisoners drew a revolver and fired at the guard. the other prisoners immediately seized the Guard took their guns away from them and run. they fired four shots but luckily none took effect. the same evening they saw a woman come to the door and throw her babe into the midle of the street where it lay until a man came along and picked it up, saying he supposed he should have to take care of it as it seemed to be deserted. the same evening they also found a man laying dead upon the walk, probably murdered. robbery and murder are of frequent occurrence. it is not safe for a man to be on the street unless he is armed to the teeth. we are in hopes that by a strict performance of our duty, we can bring about a different state of afairs in a short time. it seemes that the lowest and hardest cases of both sex have flocked into the city.

 

            Fanny I have been wondering why I get no letters from you. I have not received one since the 20^th of last month. our Chaplain informed me yesterday that our mail was put into the Jackson bags at Cairo consequently it has all gone there instead of stopping at Memphis. I am in hopes that the error is now remedyed so that hereafter we shall get our mails more regularly. our communication north will probably be open as long as we stay here /

 

I had an offer of a commission in the Regular Army the other day and am much inclined to accept it. there is much difference between the regular and volunteer service. they have more priviledges than the volunteers do. the only thing that keeps me from accepting it is that I should be seperated from home and my loved ones so much of the time. it would no doubt be an honorable position and perhaps an enviable one. but what are honors when one to gain them has to seperate himself from all he holds dear on earth. I dont believe I was ever calculated for a warrior for my inclinations are decidedly towards peace, and nothing but a case of absolute necesity would ever have induced me to enlist.

 

            Now Fanny if you get angry at me because I have presumed to write you on such a sheet as this, the next time I write I will write on two sheets. for to tell the truth this is all the kind of paper I have, and I am to lazy to go up town and get some more is not that a good excuse. and then I know you are to good natured to get angry so I feel perfectly easy. but I must close as it is late. please give my regards to all your people, kiss that rogue Sarah for me and accept a round dozen your self please write soon and believe me as ever

 

                                                            Yours afectionately

                                                                                    Frank M Guernsey

 

P. S. direct to Memphis Tenn

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