Washington D. C.

                                                                                                            May 26^th 1865

 

            My dear Fannie

                                    The Grand Review is over and I am about used up I suppose all the northern papers are full of the particulars of the great display, and well they may be proud of it. such another millitary Review was never witnessed before nor I think ever will be again. it was a fine sight for the thousands of spectators who had gathered from all parts of the Union, but it was hard for us soldiers who had the marching to do. The Army of the Potomac was reviewed on the 23^rd and Shermans army on the 24^th I thought I had seen some large crowds of people before but never nothing to compare to this. the streets which are very wide was densely crowded, just leaving room enough for the Troops to pass in colum by Company. this extended for over two miles of Street which we passed through. at the head of the Pennsylvania Avenue there was a large banner wreathed with roses strung across the street with the following in large letters “All hail our western Heroes” then followed the name of the principal battles in which we have been engaged. we passed under this banner and on up the Avenue. on every hand we were met with cheers and clapping of hands / by the men, and sweet smiles and waiving handkerchiefs by the fair daughters of Eve. we had expected a kind reception at the National Capitol for our past services in the Field, but none of us expected such a glorious welcome as we received from the grateful people. Fannie I cant begin to describe how we soldiers felt when we saw how the Nation threw open her arms and how warmly she welcomed us home, our work ended and the Union preserved. every mans heart was big with emotion we knew that our long years of suffering and hardships had now a glorious end, and that we should soon go home to our loved ones and enjoy the fruits of our hard years of labor and danger, our national honor vidicated, a pleashure to our friends, a Terror to our foes. There was a great many incidents took place worth relating but I will reserve them until I see you. On the steps of the Capitol was two or three hundred little boys and girls all singing a western song. I never had any little thing affect me as that did. there was many a wet eye I tell you among the rough old Soldiers in the ranks.

 

            The Gov of Wis was here to day and made us a neat little speech. he wants us to hurry up our business matters so that we can be mustered out before long. we are in camp about three miles from the City in a beautiful grove. we have not got our tents yet so of course are not very comfortably situated. it has rained all day to day / so that of the two it has been rather unpleasant. we have got a great deal of work to do now that we are about to be mustered out. it will take us some two or three weeks to get all our papers made out, ready to go home, but now that the time which we have to serve can be numbered by weeks, we think that we are nearly home. I received a letter from you last evening, which you wrote over by the Lake. Fannie I should liked to have been there and helped you write it. I guess it would not have been much of a letter on paper. but Fannie dear it is getting so dark that I must stop writing for this time please give my best regards to all your people and believe me as ever

 

                                                Affectionately Yours

                                                                        Frank

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