in camp near orange C H Va
April the 26th day AD 1864
Affection Farther I sat my self this
morning to inform you that I am well
and hope this letter will finde you the
same yours of the 20th inst is to hand
I was truly glad again to here that you
ware well I will say to you that the people
are a plowing some here I dont know that thare
is any corn planted yet it is not time
here I dont th peach bloom are [1]
just out the are green with grass
it grows so much nicer here then in davidson
we eat a greate deal of wilde greans
this Spring We hav corn bread plenty
if we can have a little meat from home
we hav plenty I hav plenty yet
we are done practicing the Stedy old 15th came out
best ours next We are not done drilling yet Cook
loves to drill his brigade I dont drill with them oftin
we thought we might have to go on picket but
I dont think we will go the ground has settled
but it is cloudy and rainy about half the time
yet you need not send that book till you
can send it by some one coming out
Jesse M Frank to Alex Frank
[page 2]
Dear Mother and Sister I am well
Hope you are too I rece your kinde
letters yesterday I was indeed glad to here from
you that you ware well I hav not much
to write at present we are in camp
yet but are fixing for to leave at any time
life is so un certain and deth is shure we know not when
it will come some die suddenly in camp
some on the battle field and others are
yet on the land of the living and on
mercies side of eternity so let us live
each day as if we expected it to be
the last We hav prayer meeting in the
brigade evry day preaching evry night
and preaching of Sundays it is agreate
privilege we hav it strengthens me greatly
against the wites of the devel and fits me [2]
more for prayer to love the name of
Jesus one hundred or more hav been changd
from natures night in to the Marvelous light
of the people of god at this camp and Oh who can count
the value of a single soul then what are so
many but this is only a remnant of our
fellow beings so let out prayers still be offerd
please write soon this from your dear son & brother
To Susanna & [????] Frank Jesse Frank