Memphis Tennessee

                                                                                                                        May 3^rd 1863

 

            Dear Fannie

                                    Your very welcome letter of the 25^th April came to hand this morning, and notwithstanding the gentle yet merited rebuke it contained, was read with much pleasure. Your “I mean it” gave me more pleasure than I can describe. not that I take pleasure in offending you Fannie, but in that I see you have the spirit and good will to point out to me my errors and faults of which I have many. You say you think I am indiscreet. I think so too. for had I not been I should have kept my affair at the Theater to myself and not have given you a chance to rebuke me on the subject. so I flatter myself that I possess the trait of honesty and frankness, at least. And then I had rather receive one of your gentle rebukes than the commendation of all others beside, for I know that by them though you may esteem and even love me yet you are not blinded as to my faults

 

            The bell rings for church but it is so warm and I am so lazy that I shall not / go I had much rather stay in my tent and write you for I can almost imagine that I am talking with you face to face, a priveledg that I would give nearly all the world to enjoy if it was but for a few brief hours, but what is the use of talking or wishing or thinking about such things. I am only a machine here and run when I am told to providing the wheeles are well greased with Uncle Sam’s bacon hard bread and such luxuries

 

            Fannie you can just imagine me at your picnic if you do not see me, I shall probably be in the form of some fary, so look out for one.

 

            We have very little war excitement here now Gen^l Hurlburt has received orders from Gen^l Grant to furnish him a report of the number of available troops in his command. there is a probability of more troops being sent to Vicksburg and I almost hope that we may be among the number I am getting so tired of this life of inactivity it seems that I would rather brave all the dangers of the siege at Vicksburg than to lay in camp as we have been doing for the past three month. Our Regiment has enough to do but it is not of the right sort I like the excitement of the campaign, where there is toil and danger, where when we encamp at night weary and tired, there is no assurance but before the morning sun dawns upon us some of us / may be hurried into eternity. it is amid scenes like these Fannie that I live, live years in a single hour. they make my blood course like fire through my veins and I am a changed man, for better or for worse I can’t tell, I never stop to think. but this dull weary monotonous life that we live here is not what pleases me exactly. I guess that all hopes of our Reg^mts coming north are given up I believe I wrote you about it. I do not hear the thing mentioned at all now. there will be work enough for us to do down here before long, though it would have been so very pleasant to have spent the summer in Wis. and to have seen all our friends.

 

            But it is nearly time fore Dress Parade and I must close. pleas give my regards to all your people and accept much love from your Soger boy

                                                                                                Frank M Guernsey

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