Memphis Tennessee

                                                                                                                        May 17^th 1863

 

My Dear Fannie

                                    Well: here I set as usual in my tent with pen poised over an unwritten sheet trying to think of something to write which will interest you but the atempt is futile. my ideas are as few and far between as hen’s teeth, and then there is no news to help me in the least. so you see I am in what the Frenchman calls a “fix”

 

            I believe when I last wrote you our Regiment was celebrating the Fall of Richmond which like all other news from that quarter has turned out to be a hoax, but hoax or not some of our boys had a jollification over it, which was very evident from their red eyes and the way their hair pulled the next day. there was a greate excitement here for several days as the news was very meager and we all hoped for the best results. Gen^l Webster offered to bet his coat and straps that peace would be declared in sixty dayes. I hoped it might be / so. but I failed to see it in that light. I am confident that we have got our three years to spend in the service or rather two years and two months from this date. our affairs are not progressing as well as I should like to see. Gen^l Grant has called for more troops and Gen^l Hurlburt has sent him one Brigade. we had a greate time when they left a number of the 14^th Ill^s deserted and were roving around the City. I was out with a squad of men for three successive nights and captured five of them. a squad of our men found two of them in an alley and ordered them to halt. they started to run and the Corporal ordered his squad to fire one ball ball took effect in the arm of one of the men nearley cutting it off. the other was unhurt. they begin to find out that the 32^nd cant be fooled with and they are loved and feared accordingly.

 

            The Colonel has returned from Wis where he has been spending a couple of weeks and Fannie when the opportunity offers I am going to try and get a furlough. I think if I tell him that there is a certain little black eyed lass who says that I must come, and how she will jump up and down if I do, that he can hardley resist the apeal and will let me come to get rid of me. but still the / chances of my coming are very slim, and perhaps in the next letter I write you will be to anounce my failure, but I shall live in hopes until I find there is no use.

 

            I received a letter from Mrs Richmond a few dayes since she was well. she had not received my last letter and gave me a little scolding for not writing. she said she loved me just as well as she ever did and should welcome me home as warmly as “that little black-eyed Fannie” and I believe she will, provided I bring no disgrace with me. she is a good Sister and I love her dearly. I was always her favorite and she mine. she is very anxious to see me as soon as the war closes and I think she will have a chance if nothing happens to prevent. Fannie I commenced this thinking it would prove a very dull letter and I think I have succeeded in making it so beyond all my expectations, and I think the sooner I relieve your patience the better you will be pleased, so I will close by sending my best regards to all your people and much love and a big kiss to you. good by, and may God bless you is the prayer of Your own

                                                                        Frank.

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