Click here for this soldier’s biography:
https://micivilwar.com/authors/knause-frank-b/
Regiment: 6th Michigan Infantry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures:
Port Hudson La
May 20th 1864
Dear Libbie
It is after roll call
but I am going to stay up
most all night. I have volun
-teered to go the “Grand rounds”
with Captain Cogswell. We will
not start til 12 oclock. Now I
will tell you what the Grand
rounds are. Grand rounds is
supposed to be the Officer of
the day and his staff on a tour
of inspection. He is obliged to
visit all the guards at the post
and all the camps. At his
approach, the Sentinel cry’s out.
Who goes there The reply is
Grand rounds. Sentinel. Halt. Advance Sergeant with the
countersign then the sergeant advances
with the countersign which, if right,
the Sentinel will reply to by saying
Advance rounds, the countersign is
correct. We will have about 15
miles to ride. The night is calm
and beautiful, the moon sheds a
silvery etc. you know the rest better
than I can tell you. We will have
to visit the Grand Guards outside
of the Fort. There is a little spice
to an adventure of this kind from
the fact that the woods about
this place are swarming with guerillas
Day before yesterday, they come up
as far as the Saw Mill and drove
in our Grand Guards. Our whole
Regiment fell out to their guns
and I got my position in the
magazine ready to serve out some
of Uncle Sams canned fruit which
is rather indigestible in its nature
I have also some grape which is
much of the same nature
We got our pay on the 18
th one
month and ten days of monthly
pay and my 2
nd installment of
Bounty amounting in all to $66.
of this amount I have got $39 in
notes (on interest) and a watch
worth $25. beside this I have $15.75
in money making a total of $79.75.
I have made by speculating $13.75
in two days. I am going to send
you in this letter $5 for spending
money. I wish I could make you
a present of more but I cannot
do it this pay-day. The next time
we get paid off I will send you
some more. I would send you
more now but you know I have
got to send $100 home next pay day to
make a payment on that
place that I and John are going
to buy I am going to put my
money into a place and “when
this cruel war is over” I am going
to have a girl about you size, age, and
name (if it is not changed) come and
live with me for I am not going to
get married right away I care for
none of your sex outside of you and
and Mary and Mr. Sweets family.
Dont imagine I am in love with
Kate of Louise, for I am not. I love
Mrs. Sweet as much as either of her
daughters. She has been more of a
Mother to me than
one
that I have called by that name
I love Lou and Kitty
almost as well
as I do you and Mary I would
not dare to write this to Mary for
with her jealous disposition she
would magnify this mole hill so that
it would be a mountain of
mammoth size. I dont know what to
think of that Town Bounty of mine.
if I thought Pa had not got
it I would send him some money
If he has got it he wont need
anything, but if he has not got it
he will needs some money
My health is tip top
and my spirits as good as
usual P.S. This is “part
first.” Part 2
nd
I mail with
the money and
the conclusion
of this letter
Frank
[On Envelope:]
Miss Libbie Knause
Marshall
Calhoun Co.
Michigan
