1863
Pocataligo SC April the 12 day
dear father I rece your kinde letter
yesterday of the [13?] inst which found
me in usual health I am stronger
and can travil better than I could
since the meriland march tho I am
not as well as I would like to be in
the army but I hope and trust that
this will find you in good health
we are left nearly alone the 46 is
gone back to ward Charleston, 3
of our Cos are gone to guard on the
road towards charleston we hav agreat
deal of guard deuty to do A SC bat [1]
has latly came in here that is all
the troops that are close here now
that money you sent is very good
here and I will spend it & eat it out
you wont to know the truth about
our fare the truth is that man that
told you he saw the soldiers grinde
cobs to eat is not a man of truth if
I hant bad mis taken we get A quart
of meal a day tolerable good meal
it is sifted some ¼ of a pound of bacon
we hav drawed bacon a weak or more
and molasses we get plenty of them
a little vinegar sope and candles
[page 2]
I dont suffer for some thing to eat
like I did in va. the South carolinians
are clever men to compare with the ver
ginnions I hant been getting to lette
the last 3 weeks I write evry week
I got a letter from uncle P Frank
and I wrote him a histry about som
marching we had last week
I hant room to write it in this
letter you can read his letter an that
will do about as well cattle hav
been turnd to grass here I think
they can live very well now allegater
are plenty here in the ponds I hav saw
young ones the first of april was cool
er than march thar was onley a few
windy days an more lik it is in
nc I hant any news to write if you
read P Franks letter only write
oftin evry week would not be too oftin
to please me sisters why dont
you write oftin I now you like
to here from me oftin I will close
fo this time Father mother & sisters
When this you see remember me
Jesse M Frank to Alx frank
may god grant that this may finde
you all well Jesse Frank