Letter Home from Gettysburg

Dear Folks,

There was another battle this week. It was at this little town called Gettysburg.

When the scouts got back to the old army and we heard that the Rebs were just a bit away and starting to turn about to come and get us. We were all a bit anxious. We had seen Fredricksburg and didn’t like the sound of it. I said that I hoped that just because the two towns sounded alike, didn’t mean they had to be the same.

But, we were able to get to the little town before the Rebs. So we set up on the west side (that’s their side) of the little range of hills beyond the town. The good old 83rd Pennsylvania was set next to last at the south end of the range. Only the 20th Maine was in our southern direction.

And how the Rebs did come by Jove! We ourselves had both the Alabama 4th and the Alabama 47th directly attacking us. That was hard fighting that was.

And, to make it worse, part of the way through the battle. The 20th Maine started to get bent around northeast, and I was afraid that they’d get turned clean in half so that the enemy soldiers could start shooting us in the back from the east.

But the 20th Maine was able to hold and actually crush a good bit of the 15th Alabama, which was the regiment posted against them. So we finally pushed them back and the little scared Colonels of the Confederates were ordered the retreat.

Even though we won, and we win a lot, it never does feel like a complete victory to me. Lots of my good buddies were injured and a couple died. But that’s what I’m willing to do for this great country of ours, take care of it for me.

Oh gosh! Look I’ve wasted all this good paper telling you people about battle plans and the like. I’ve missed the important stuff.

How’s my good brothers back there? And how did the planting go?

Well, that’s about all the paper I got so.

Have a happy Fourth of July and give my love to all the family.

Sincerely, Frank