Out on Piquet [picket]1
3 miles from camp
Nov 22 1862
Dear Friends,
I wrote you a letter last Sunday and I then told you we had but just returned from “Piquet Duty,” well here I am again out 3 miles from camp doing duty as a Piquet and I take this opportunity to answer Mother’s and George’s letters which I received a day or two since.
I am very glad to hear that all are well. I am still well and able to do duty. The weather is cold and damp, and very many of the men have had colds. We are now provided with wedge tents six feet square. The cloth is nothing but cotton and the water runs right through and as it was very late at night when we reached our present camp, we did not have time to dig ditches round the tents. So many woke in the morning and found their beds in a mud puddle. No wonder the tender ones have severe colds. William Ealden and Smith cough all night, often so hard and long as to cause vomiting. Will is not accounted as being able to do duty. Smith is here on Piquet. He is much better.
I have little news to write. The Rebs are at Fredericksburg 5 miles from our camp. Our folks have cannons planted ready to shell the town unless surrendered by the mayor. I think the Rebs will evacuate2. Still the time is not far distant when we must fight our way and as we are in Front in the Left Grand Wing3 we will be among the first to take to the Greybacks and I hope the 122nd will do honor to the town and city from which they came.
We have already won a good name. Our camp has always been pronounced the best in the Brigade. Major now Lt Col Hamlin an old campaigner says we cannot be beat when marching in the Line of Battle. We have a General Inspection Sunday and the Inspector said he never saw the N.Y. 7th stand steadier or make a better appearance than the 122nd and the N.Y. Herald says the 122nd is a fit standard for all new troops.
You write that you have a pair of gloves all knit for me. You can send them by mail. I think they come very handy here. Some of these mornings when we have to turn out for “role call” and find everything white with frost. I am very warmly clad excepting my feet. My shoes are all bust out and the mud and slush run in and out when they please. I made out a requisition for shoes and socks a month ago but don’t seem to get them.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Well I shall try and get along with Bacon, Hard Tack and coffee. I would just like to drop in and have dinner with you but that is impossible. So George must eat a double shot for me. I hope this War will end soon so that all can return to their Homes. But I will never do as _____ and ______ 4 have done but will stick until honorably discharged. Until then I remain as ever
Yours Afct’ly5 and for the Union
Frank
Excuse this scribbling for it is very cold.
1”Piquet” was picket duty, where members from each regiment took turns guarding the camp. Since Frank said he was 3 miles from camp, he was likely in the Advance Guard, which meant he was first in line to encounter the enemy if they attacked. Interestingly, “piquet” is also a French card game for two players, similar to Euchre. Maybe Frank was being a bit tongue-in-cheek when referring to “picket” duty as “Piquet” duty.
2The Rebs did not evacuate. They hunkered down on the hills above the town and beat the shit out of the Yanks. The Union had difficulties crossing the Rappahannock River due to bureaucratic delays allowing the South to dig in deeper with their fortifications. It is known as one of the most one-sided battles of the Civil War.
3The Left Grand Wing (division) was commanded by Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, consisted of the I Corps of Maj. Gen. John F. Reynolds (divisions of Brig. Gens. Abner Doubleday and John Gibbon and Maj. Gen. George G. Meade) and the VI Corps of Maj. Gen. William F. "Baldy" Smith (divisions of Brig. Gens. William T. H. Brooks, Albion P. Howe, and John Newton). A cavalry brigade commanded by Brig. Gen. George D. Bayard was attached. On December 13th they were able to pierce the first defensive line of Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, but were eventually repulsed.
4It is difficult to read what Frank has written here; it does appear to be proper names, and from the context of his sentence it sounds like these two individuals went AWOL from the regiment. Frank did indeed stick until he was honorably discharged.
5”Afct’ly” is short for “affectionately.” It seems to be a trademark endearment of Frank’s.
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