The following letter was written by a member of Co. E, 80th Ohio Volunteer Infantry who signed his name “Frank.” There are a handful of soldiers in that company with the initial “F” in their names but the only one who went by the name Frank was 28 year-old Frank Pumphrey who must have lived in Coshocton county, Ohio, at some point in his life as he and his relatives were acquainted with Sam Compton who also served in that company and was mentioned.

Frank enlisted for three years on 28 October 1861 and was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps on 5 September 1863. Frank appears to have a sister named Laura and a brother named George. Most likely his father was no longer living since he is not mentioned.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

Camp at Paducah [Kentucky]
March 28, 1862

My dear little sister Laura & Mother,

I must sit down and drop you a few lines to let you know that I have not forgotten you. I am on duty now but I have been on the sick list for two weeks. George is here. He has been here for two weeks. He is going to stay here till pay day—if it ever comes. If he stays till we get our pay, I will send you fifty dollars home by him.

Paducah is a pretty place but it is full of secesh. The women are very sassy but the men dare not open their mouth. I get along well. The Boys appear to like me very well. They say if I leave them, they will desert. I am dem [?] & Will McComber are well and as fat as pups I am. Clark brought me a can of tomatoes. I tell you they tasted good. The catsup fell down and bursted open. That piece of beef was very good and smart.

I don’t think this war will last more than six months or one year at the farthest. I hope not for I would rather be at home than to be here. It is very sickly here. There is from one to two hundred buried here a week—mostly Illinois troops. There is about 15 hundred sick at this point and only nine surgeons to attend to them. Sam Compton has been very sick. His fever is broke but he is not able to be up. I don’t think he will ever get well. I think he has the consumption. Don’t tell his folks anything about his being dangerous. George will bring him home with him when he comes if he is able to come. ¹

I have nothing of importance to write. You are better posted at home on the war than we are. We don’t know anything—only what transpires in our own camp. As yet we have done nothing but move from camp to camp and eat fat meat & hard bread. We have our arms now—all the 80th [OVI] wants a chance and we will make our mark.

Paducah is full of refugees from Tennessee. There is from one to two hundred comes every day. They have been coming all this week. They say that they had to run and leave everything else go in the Secesh army. They say all they want is arms and they will clean out Tennessee themselves. I saw Pompey & G. W. Brown at Louisville, Kentucky. They both looked well. I think after I get over this camp disease, I can stand as much as any of them. I like this kind of a life but if the war was over, I would rather be at home.

I want you to find out what is the least that James will take for the house that you live in or what you can get the Shrieves’ house for. I have not spent one cent of my wages—only what it took for my uniform. I will send my money home as fast as I get it. Give my love to grandfather,

From your affectionate brother & son Frank.

Direct to Paducah Camp, in care of Col. [Ephraim R.] Eckley, 80th [Ohio] Regt.

¹ Samuel Compton (1835-1862) served in Co. F, 80th OVI. He was the son of Richard Compton (1806-1894) and Dorcas Jane Odor (1811-1870) of Roscoe, Coshocton county, Ohio. He died of disease at Paducah, Kentucky on 9 April 1862.