Letter & Envelope, from Frank Drake(?) to Charley Williams
Object number1998.055.21.1-2
DateMarch 18, 1865
Mediumpaper and ink
Dimensions15 1/2 x 9 3/4 in. (39.4 x 24.8 cm)
Credit LineOld State House Museum collection
Terms
(B) Envelope is opened to the left side. It has a red, three cent stamp in the upper right corner. Address is handwritten in black ink. 3.025" x 5.1875"
Francis Drake served in Co. H of the 7th Massachusetts. Charles Williams also served in the 7th Massachusetts.
Quarter Master Office
1st Div. of A.C.
Little Rock, Arkansas
March 18, 1865
Friend Charley
I have just received a letter from my wife and in it she speaks of you as not being able to do much work yet and I thought perhaps a few lines from your old neighbor and wellwisher would take up your mind for a few moments if not as interesting. I am glad to hear that you are improving in health and keep on doing so and you will be able to take another bathe in the old Pond and rescue another fair damsel from a watery grave. Your star(?) is not the ascendency keep up good (?). Recollect it is the true and brave that belong the prize. You are surrounded by friends and you are not forgotten from I what I hear and I am glad for you but my lot is cast and you know how (?) military rules supreme. Nothing by orders, details, squealing of fifes, beating of drums, sounding of bugles, music of bands, crack of rifles, booming of cannons, braying of mules, squalling of Blue jays and wood peckers bring up the rear. But our situation is a very pleasant one. We are in what was the Arsinal before the war and it is used partially for that purpose now. I will give you a brief description. It is a yard of about 40 acres and all over it is scattered large forest trees, mostly oak, which will make it very pleasant this summer and then the building is large, 2 story with basement for cook rooms and (?) halls. It is one hundred feet long and about forty wide and very high between joints, made of brick. These (?) are more of the same d(?) and three more are (?) used for ordinance and ordinance stores the stand(?) in a square and inside is an artillary (?) cannon mounted and cassing [sic] all filled ready at short notice for a (?) to stand at the back door of our (?), more propery called house in the east. We can see our line of breast works. They are not such ones as the Yankee invented since cotton has raised to such a price, rubber ones but composed principally of mother earth and mounting considerable (?) (?) than the Yankee invention does. But the city is very well fortified. Its natural defenses are good. We have but a few troops down the Mississippi to New Orleans and are to take part in the seige against Mobile. One regt. has gone up to Fort Smith and another down on the White River to St. Charles. Capt. Whitcomb is a division quarter master so we have to supply all the troops at this post, the 1st Div. of the 7th Army Corps. The first Brigade has 5 regts. The 7th(?) Brig. 7 regts, all colored and they make a black row(?) and with white gloves it makes a contrast on dress parade. And then there is 5 Batteries in our division. Then there is 4 Cavalry Regts. that are scouting most of the time. About thirty of them had a fight with a lot of rebs down the river about thirty miles and there [sic] Captain was killed and was just brought up here to the burying ground. There is not much fighting in this state. Rebs are scarce. Nothing but bushwacking parties. There will be but little fighting on this side of the Mississippi except down in Texas.
Sunday Morning 19th
It does not seem much like a Sunday in old New England where nothing but the sound of the church bells is heard reminding us of our duty to our God. We do not know how to prize(?) our priveleges we enjoy in New England until deprived of them. Here we don't know when Sunday comes hardly. Business goes on the same since one has to be in the office all the time and it has fell [sic] to my lot but now we have three more clerks in the office and I shall not be so confined. It takes some scribbling to run this institution. Just the little item of forage that we have to draw and deliver every month would keep your (?) horses three months. The paper and blanks that we use every month is brought up in a two horse ambulance and make a good load and there the Clothing(?) Camp & Garrison Equipage and Quarter Masters Stores it takes three six mule teams two days to draw it up to our storehouse about half a mile what we issue every month so I have given you an inkling of what we are doing to keep ourselves out of mischief. I have been sleeping in the office until now. I have moved inot the Captain's private office with him and given my bunk up to one of the clerks. We have a young man, a German, come in as clerk by the wishes of the general commanding the division. He is a baron's son and has a good education. He was a lieutenant in the Prusian [sic] Army but for some reason was reduced and he came to this country about 14 months ago and enlisted. He has passed a good examination for a commission, all but the speaking English. And the general has sent him here to learn to speak our language. There is no German in this office so he will have to speak English. I have been out only twice to look around the city. I road out twice on horse back with the Captain. We went over the river on a steam ferry boat and called on a number of officers and had quite a pleasant time. The weather is very warm here. The trees are leaving out. The cherry, peach & rosebud are all blossomed out. The birds are building their nests and every thing is forward as it is there in May. I am very well pleased with my situation, all but being away from my family and home. If my family were here I should like to stay. One thing is disagreable. We are away so far from everything, the next to the last in this country and that is Fort Smith, the last place in this world but it is a good place to get into military business. A man that has seen service with common school education can get a commission easy. My paper is getting scarce. Remember me to all (?) friends. My kind regards to all your family. I should like to hear you as soon as convenient. Hoping you will continue to improve in health.
I remain as ever yours
Frank Drake
Status
Not on view
August 14, 1864
May 24, 1863
August 2, 1862
August 28, 1864
September 11, 1864