Letter from Frank to Fanny Hall. Camp Near White Oak Church, Va.
Camp Near White Oak Ch. Va.
March 9th, 1863
Own Dear Wify,
Your Dear letters of Tuesday & Wednesday
(2 & 3) came Safely last night. I sent the checks some time ago, The
pay master may probably be here in perhaps a week & then I hope that
things will be different.
It is a beautiful day today. The regiment
has been having a two hours drill from 2 to 4 o'clock & they look well,
the old battered colors were unfurled to the height & all looked very
well. In the midst of the drill, Preston King arrived, the ex N.Y.
Senator, He is a very large fat man. The Quartermaster brought him up from
Falmouth in an ambulance.
Last week I had my company prayer meetings
and also the Wednesday evening meeting & Yesterday we had the whole regiment
at the morning service. They had inspection & after it wheeled them into
solid columns on the Parade Ground. There were so many out that the Col.
Palmer thought not but to form them as usual in three sides of a square.
But I was sorry, for it was a very unpleasant way of speaking to them. In
the evening we had our prayer meeting, a lecture in the Hospital Steward's
tent & a very pleasant one.
Today I made pleasant calls among the
men. I think the plan of speaking to each about Christ before leaving is
the best plan, I thought some time ago I would not always do it, but I find
that the interval between each man is too great to have a single
opportunity.
Oh wify, how many are here that have been
professors of religion & now do not even pray. And then again, we have
splendid fellows, earnest Christians. Letz, the Hospital Steward, told me
some time ago of one who was a professor of religion & when first in
battle was heard praying aloud & when they came out, the boys who had
went in cursing & swearing laughed at him, saying they fared just as
well as he did. The next time they say he went in with Profane bravado
& fell among the first, shot dead. Col. Palmer never heard of it, he
says. Yet, Letz says it was so.
I have taken some of the papers from the
ladies of Plattsburgh today among the men & have had my morning &
afternoon prayers at the hospital & soon after dress parade, we will
have dinner. We had a brunch before dress. Oh how good the cherries are &
the Quince Jellies & the pickles.
Good by own one. I am very well indeed.
Good by from own ever loving hubby.
Franky.