Harper Hospital
		Detroit.  April 9
	Dearest Mother
		I must try to get time
to pen you a few lines this Day it being
Sunday, and just two Years and eight
Months since you resolved to let me
act my own pleasure about Enlisting
Oh how well I remember that Day,
how Happy!  and yet how sad I was
for as you know I had long been
wanting to go and fight for My Country,
and now Dear Mother, as I have passed
through so much of my time, all safe
I am glad I went.  yes I am Proud to
know that I can say after this War
if I shall Live that I was a Soldier
and I hope I shall never forget to
be ever thankfull to God for his
kind Protection.  I have commenced
Reading the Bible through I began the

[written upside down on top of page]:
Augustus has had an Opperation on his leg
and is doing Well Now.  he had the dead Bone
taken Out.				F

first of this month and shall finish
the Book of Exodus this Evening which
makes just ten Chapters per Day
and with all my Work that makes 
me very busy, but I make it my whole
Reading, laying aside all Novels, etc.
so if I stay here my time out
I can read it through.  but I guess I
shall not remain here only about
two or three months longer if they
dont send me away for I cannot
get my Descriptive List, so if I do
remain here I cannot get Mustered
Out, so I guess I will go down and
see the Boys.  I would like to go
this Month if I thought I could go and
not get sick, but as my health is
I think this is the best Place for me
and so I shall remain.
	I must go to Dinner
		1.35 P.M.  we have
just got our mail for the Day and I
received one from Al - stating that you

first of this month and shall finish
the Book of Exodus this Evening which
makes just ten Chapters per Day
and with all my Work that makes 
me very busy, but I make it my whole
Reading, laying aside all Novels, etc.
so if I stay here my time out
I can read it through.  but I guess I
shall not remain here only about
two or three months longer if they
dont send me away for I cannot
get my Descriptive List, so if I do
remain here I cannot get Mustered
Out, so I guess I will go down and
see the Boys.  I would like to go
this Month if I thought I could go and
not get sick, but as my health is
I think this is the best Place for me
and so I shall remain.
	I must go to Dinner
		1.35 P.M.  we have
just got our mail for the Day and I
received one from Al - stating that you

[Work?] to a good Place or Not
it seems as if she could find work
in Fenton.  I am afraid she thinks
to much of that Tom.  I do Hope
she will not Have any thing to Do
with him any more for I know him
to be one of the most low lived
Dirty rascals in the City  I have it
from the best of Authority, or I should
not say so..  you see I have a good
chance to learn what sort of men
those Rail Road men are here in this 
City  and I want Sarah to do
	well for herself.
		Respects to All
I am, Very Respectfully  Your Old Son
			Frank

		Frank
	Mrs. N. Holmes