Decatur Ala

                                                                                                            July 30^th 1864.

 

            My Dear Fannie

                                    I came back day before yesterday from a scout of three days after Rhody. I had marched over twenty miles in the burning sun and to cap the whole, just as we got within sight of the camp a shower came up and as there was no dodgeing it we got completely wet through. well when I got into camp and went to my tent Lieut Ball handed me a letter on which I immediately recognized your well known hand writing. I could not wait to change my clothes, but sat down as I was and read your letter and you may be assured I enjoyed it.

 

Now Fannie dear I will tell you about our scout. We started from Decatur monday afternoon to go out and stir up the Reb^s a little. the day before they had taken nine of our Regt prisoners and I suppose we went out to / see if we could not get them back. the first afternoon we marched out about ten miles and went into camp just after dark. (our forces were the 32^nd Wis. 25^th Ind. and 18^th Mich. also about two hundred Cavelry and two pieces of Artilery) the next morning some of the Cavelry who had been sent on in advance came back and reported the enemy in force, some two or three miles in advance. we immediately made preperations for a fight. the 32^nd was drawn up in line of battle behind a rail fence on one side of the road and running at right angles with it. in our rear was the 18^th Mich. the 25 Ind was sent out in advance and placed in ambush. we had just got our places when some of the Johnnies showed themselves in the road in front. our Cavelry commenced skirmishing with them and succeeded in taking a Reb^l Lieut and four men prisoners with their horses. the Rebs finally concluded that we was to many for them and fell back. we spent the day where we were waiting for the Rebs to pitch in but they did not see fit to do so. we employed our selves during the time we were waiting for them in killing pigs and chickens and getting / potatoes. we lived on the top shelf all day, but at night our Regt. was ordered to march. we started just before dark and tried to make a flank movement on the enemy and get in his reare. we left the road and started off through the fields & woods with no path. we marched nearly all night and the worst kind of marching it was too. we did not succeed in flanking the Rebs I suppose they discovered us and retreated some of their Pickets fired on us during the night. we finally got into the road again and was joined by the rest of the command. we stoped just long enough to eat our breakfasts and then started for Courtland, where the Rebs had fallen back too. we reached C.— about ten oclock and our advance (the 18^th Mich) commenced skermishing with the enemy. our Regt was soon ordered up to support the 18^th which was deployed as skirmishers, but through the cowardice of some of their officers did not come up to the work well Our Regt formed line of battle and were ordered to advance. Fannie you ought to have seen the old 32^nd then on we went toward the enemy who were secreted in the woods and behind trees / we passed through the 18^th and took our position and in advance. the enemy were at one place not over twenty rods from my company and pouring voley after voley of their leaden hail at us most of which luckily passed harmeless over our heads. my company had the most exposed position in the whole line but not a man shirked We stood waiting for the order to charge, until we were ordered to lie down. as soon as our artilery opened on the Rebs they left. we had two men killed and about ten wounded four of which were from my Company the balls came uncomfortably close I tell you one came so near me that it brushed my whiskers it made me dodge my head I tell you. I think I have experienced all the peculiar feelings ( of which so much has been said) before going into battle, and I believe I have no particular desire or longing to be in any more engagements. there was a good many laughable things occured during the fight, which I will tell some other time as my sheet is nearley filled. Fannie I received a letter from Sister Teen yesterday she was well and sent her love to Fannie. but my dear I must now close. with much love and a dozen kisses I am

                                                                                                Affectionately Yours

                                                                                                                                    Frank

SOURCES