Letter from Fanny to Frank Hall, from Hartford, Connecticut.
Hartford, Dec. 27th, 1862
My own dearest one,
Do you come more & know how your wifey
thinks of you, how constantly, how lovingly and anxiously. My faith &
trust is not as strong and reliant as it should be, but, oh, how I love you.
I watch for your letters at every mail, all hours. John's there, so that
if there are any, I can have them immediately.
Dear Franky, I am afraid your journal letters
will be more of surroundings than I care for. What my heart longs for, what
I yearn for, is to know all about yourself; your thoughts,
your heart's feelings, your occupations. Do tell me fully all, my
husband. For oh, I am sure, you cannot tell how I love you and long to know
more about your life & feelings in so trying a field of labor. Do you
take all the precautions possible to ensure health & protection?
If we can form any opinion from the tone
of the press, it looks again like another move, march for the Army of the
Potomac. Oh, it would be a difficult task for one to know a mere anxiety
at home. Oh, my Franky, do not let any excitement or anything lead you to
forget your duty here. I know so well how utterly regardless you are of self
when you can do for anyone or imagine you can that I cannot but fear
that you will not be as cautious as you should. Will you think of these
things?
I have not yet found your new Camp, White
Oak Ch[urch]. Oh my, how I am deeply, heartily thankful for just a line,
telling me you are well. It is more to me than you can realize, but I thought
that maybe you would journalize more of others & less of self, and "self"
is what the heart of wifey longs for.
We have a dense fog this morning, now
and then the sunlight gives promise of clearing off. Yesterday was a very
busy day. I had a woman here [to clean] things up for me, for I assure
you it was a relief to have someone besides Charlotte. She is too slow &
damaging for anything. It was a pleasant day, so we all stayed at home as
quiet as need be. This morning or afternoon, I must go downtown, if possible.
Dr. Baresford came here to see Amelia (she has a cold), and made many inquiries
about you, desired me to give his kind regards to you and tell you to be
careful, or something to that effect. His new hobby is the habens Campers
[?] and we had quite a purloined comfort, as usual. Can you imagine it all,
my husband?
Remember Franky, my oft repeated request
of you. Once sick or injured, not only telegraph, but send some one for me
immediately. Will you remember? Do give me the comfort of your promise. Do
not carelessly put yourself in exposure. Love me dearly & tell me so,
my husband. Don't keep anything from me. Pat Zollicoffer for me &
tell him to be a faithful steed. Oh my husband, how I love you. Ever your
little wife's heart love.
Fannie Fan
Tuesday Morning.
Dear hubbie, I must hurry and finish my letter so as to have it go this morning. Lottie & Annie are both in my room, so that my advantages for writing are not very good. Dearest one, I hope I've not written wrongfully but my heart was heavy last night and I cannot but feel troubled. You must put it all on my deep love for you, my own one. I am watching and waiting for the treat of your letter, journal letter, but I can't believe, Franky, you know how I long to know more fully of your employments. Mr. Sheldon gave a sweet account of your service the evening he was there. Oh, how my heart welled up within me in thinking of your labor and work there. Oh, it is a noble one, dearest. May God guide and protect you most sweetly in and through all an keep you from all danger. I know your heart is fully, heartily in the work and I fear you will do as you did in Luzerne, and not take the care you ought, and so injure yourself. Oh, how I long to have your letter. Do, my husband, in all your cares & duties, remember you have a little wifey for you to take care of yourself for. I must hurry now, own one. Take what you ever have, the deep, devoted heart's best love of thine
Fannie Fan