Letter from Fanny to Frank Hall, from Hartford, Ct.
Hartford, Dec. 16th, 1862
My own dear hubbie
Your wifey has come to our room for the night and now I want to have a little paper talk with you. Where are you and how are you situated, my husband. Oh, I do so want to hear from you, though I suppose I must remember how the army have been situated for some days. You do not, cannot, know how I love you and how I would love to be with you. Could I not be of some use in helping you some way.
Your dear letter from Belle Plain, telling me you were well, was an immense comfort, but I am beginning to long for another letter and know more; to know how you endure all the hardships & cares. In fact, I want to know every thing, my husband, about you, your own self; other things I care little about, in comparison.
So much has transpired since the 9th. I long to know from your own pen that you are well. Do not blame me, my husband, for being anxious, how can it be otherwise? It is mysterious to me how some wives can seem to lose sight of anxiety as they do, but then hubbie, we are not like most people, generally. I am more and more convinced of that. Oh, my dearest one, how I think and think of you. Amid all the confusion & care and danger, do not cease to remember your wifey and how you must take care of yourself, for her sake. I know you remember and love wifey always, but I want you to think of her in Just that light; how she depends upon you and loves you and how dependent she is upon you. I do not believe you do know. I did not myself, until lately. Will you be cautious, will you be careful?
Sometimes it is almost as if I could not contain myself here. Oh, you do not, cannot know Just how a woman's heart is engrossed with her husband and how thought flies to him from every action and thought, I may almost say.
I do not mean to doubt your love, but there it is hardly possible to realize how a wife's heart is wrapped up in her husband. There has been so much danger, so much exposure. I fear that I do not know what to do. All I can do is pray for you, my husband, oh, how earnestly, how fervently, that you may be guided & protected and kept from harm. And be strengthened for your duties and be spared. Do you know my heart, my husband?
I wonder if you receive any letters from me & have written consistently, as you see. Yesterday, I wrote you a letter without a number and sent it to Mr. Sheldon to take to you, in case he might meet your Regt. Remember, dearest one, my request about letters. I will feel it a proof of love. Keep one till you receive another and then burn the previous one; it is the only safe way moving about, so please, my husband.
Your letters I save & do carry with me wherever I go and I know you will want to do Just so with mine, but it would be far from wise and you will please content yourself with keeping the contents in your heart, my deary.
It is nearly twelve o'clock, so sweet, dear, loving kisses to my own one from his devoted wife.
Fan