The following letter was written by Charles (“Charlie”) Frederick Frink (b. 1842), the son of James Frink and Martha Goodhue Prescott of New Haven, Connecticut,

Charles was a 19 year-old clerk in the mercantile establishment of J. E. Wesener & Co. in Akron, Ohio, at the time he enlisted on 22 April 1861 in Co. G, 19th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI)—a three-month’s regiment. He mustered out of the regiment on 31 August 1861.

In the New Haven city directory of 1863, it appears that Charles had returned East and went into partnership in the grover business with his brother, Nathan C. Frink (N. F. & C. F. F.), their establishment located at Green & Hamilton in New Haven.

Charles wrote the letter to his sister, Adelaide A. (Frink) Everit (1831-1910), the wife of William Lyon Everit (1826-1915) who were living in Akron, Ohio, in 1861. The “Mattie” and “Willie” mentioned in the final paragraph were Adelaide’s children.

Transcription

Camp Buchanan
Buchanan, Upshur county, Virginia
July 6th 1861

My dear sister,

I received your very welcome letter yesterday and was quite vexed to think that that any of the boys had wrote that I was sick. I never was better in my life than I have been for the last two weeks and if I continue so to be, I shall be perfectly satisfied with my three months service in the Army of the U. S. and the State of Ohio.

We had an inspection of arms yesterday which resulted favorably for the whole regiment and especially for Co. G. The report is that we are to be paid off in a few days. Whether it is true or not, I do not know but think it probable. There was also a trial to see how many men would go for three years or during the war. There was fifteen men out of Co. G., Lieutenant [Gilbert S.] Carpenter heading the list, and I heard the Colonel [Samuel Beatty] remark that there was about 150 or 175 men in the regiment that would probably go for the war.

We have had pretty hard times for the last seven or eight days and the boys are looking forward with a good deal of feeling for the end of their three months and I think will be perfectly satisfied to remain at home for some time to come.

I had a letter from mother at Clarksburg. She wished me to return home as soon as my three months expired and come to think it over, I think it will be the best thing I can do for the present at least for if I returned to Akron, I should not want to go back to J[oseph] E. Wesener & Co. and I cannot see any other chance for the present. I shall write to Will and have him see if he cannot get me some kind of a place in New York.

If you please, you may pack my trunk and somewhere near the time my term expires—say three or four days—you may send it out by Express to New Haven.

If we get paid off and I ever get into any civilized town, I will send you a picture of Charles F. Frink with arms, equipments, and uniform so that you can see what kind of a child he is. Perhaps he would look better if he would have a dried cracker and an old tin cup in his hand but he will dispense with that for the present.

I wish you would ask William to send me a Cleveland and New York paper as soon as he can as we get nothing of that kind here—that is, nothing that is new.

As there is a call for drill, I will close and wishing you to bid goodbye to all Akron folks for me, I remain your affectionate brother, — Charlie

P. S. Love to Mattie & Willie and you must excuse this writing and the mistakes as I am writing on an old tin plate. — Charlie

Beverly
July 14th 1861

Dear sister,

I have just received this letter from one of the boys. I sent it from Buchanan by one of Co. H boys and he lost his knapsack on his way home and it was picked up and returned to our camp this morning.

On Thursday morning the 11th of June [should be July] we arose at 2 o’clock and marched about 12 miles across the mountain to the Rebel camp at Rich Mountain. They had it very strongly fortified but we attacked them in the rear and completely routed them taking about 50 prisoners and killing and wounding as many more. We took 4 pieces of cannon and about 100 stand of arms and all their camp equipage. It is valued at about $50,000. [See Battle of Rich Mountain]

I think we will return home very soon now as there seems nothing more to do this side of Richmond. — Charlie

There is 800 prisoners here.