Grand Junction Tenn

                                                                                                Jan Dec 4^th 1864

 

My Dear Fannie

                        After the hardest campaign we have ever had I have once more got to a place where I can drop you a few lines for I suppose you think by this time that I have been gobbled or that I am gone up, but that is not the case. I still live and thank fortune am able to move. I believe I wrote you in my last that four companies of our Reg^t were mounted and Company “F” is one of that number. We left this place on the 28^th of Dec to escort a train loaded with rations through to our Brigade which was in Mississippi in pursuit of Forrest. we were in the saddle all day and nearley all night / before we overtook the Brigade. we were very tired but our troubles were not yet at an end. we stayed just long enough to feed and rest our horses and then were under way again and rode until night making about thirty-six hours in the saddle with only rest long enough to feed. we were mighty glad to get into camp I assure you. we were calculating on a good nights rest but soon after we had laid down it began to rain and as we had no tents we got pretty wet. the next morning the wind had changed to the north and it was growing cold very fast and raining harder than ever. we stood shivering around the fire until about ten oclock when the order came to march and of all the days marching that was the worst. I thought I had seen hard times before but it was nothing compared to that day / we were all wet through with the rain, which came down almost constantly until about noon when it changed the programme and began to snow and freeze very hard the wind was blowing a hurricane from the north driving the sleet and snow into our faces at a great rate. in about an hour my clothes had frozen stiff on me. I froze my ears and came near freezing to death myself. some poor fellows froze their fingers and others froze their faces so that on the whole we were pretty much used up. it was a rough night to camp we had no tents and the snow was about two inches deep on the ground. I can’t describe how we passed the night some were swearing others singing to keep up courage. the next day was New Years and was full as cold as the day preceeding but / it did not storm so it was not quite so bad. we all managed to get back to this place again after a campaign of five days and may the good Lord deliver me from such an other. we have our tents here but are not very comfortable yet. we have not had time to fix up much the weather has been so cold and unpleasant. I built me a fire-place yesterday and this evening I am enjoying it hughly. I received a letter containing a likeness of a young Lady resembling you very much but I hardley think it does you justice. I should prefer to see the original any way. but as that is out of the question I console myself with looking at this I have. but I see that I have nearly filled my sheet and I guess I will close. now Fannie dear please write soon for I want to hear from you very much. I will write again to you if we stay here for a while. I guess we shall winter here. please give my regards to all and accept much love for yourself from

                                    Frank

 

P. S. Please Direct to Memphis as before

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