Franklin County: Franklin Rosenbery to John Abraham
Rosenbery (father) and probably Mary Jane Snider (stepmother), December 25, 1863
Summary:
Rosenbery discusses his duties as soldiers and goes on to offer his prayers and
proclamations of his Christian faith. He says that heaven waits after death,
noting that it will contain no war and no slavery. Rosenbery also mentions his
duty to fight for his country.
December 25th A. D. 1863
Camp Near, Stephensville, Va.
Dear Father and Step-Mother:
Your letter of the 17th of this month came to hand on the 22nd of this month and in the letter you requested me to answer it immediately.
I had written you a letter on the 22nd but no answer as I did not receave your letter until evening. Yesterday I intended to answer it but was detailed to help to build cordury roads so that we can have our suplies brought from Brandy Station. If it shoud be wet - or as it appears-winter the rods soon get miserable bad in these Virginia swamps.
Now, about Ashway not mentioning Abraham's name when he wrote, it is this way-the soldier very seldom mentions one individual's name without there is something wrong for all appear like brothers. When one is well all is right. I shall make an inquiry of their wheabout as soon as I can.
I am well. I thank God that I enjoy good health-both in soul and body.
I hope you all enjoy the same as it is a very necessary thing as life is incertain and death is sure.
We are taught in the word of God that it is an awful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Lord, prepare our Soul and meet thee at that great day with joy and not with grief..it is no vain thing to wait upon the Lorde. Although we have trials, troubles and difficulty deep and high-loses and crosses to contend with in this world but everything works for good to them that love God.
I am sorry to hear that you must suffer so much with pains in your back.
But I should say to you-place your trust in God-then our light afflictions which are fore a moment will work out for us. A far more exceedin and eternal weight of Glory. Lord help us sinful worms of the dust to be faithful so that may be well with us when we exchange time for eternity or when we are called to cross the cold Jordan of death. It may be that we will never see each other here but if we live right to do the will of God as we should, we will meet in Heaven to part no more. There will be no war there and there will be no slavery. There all will be freedom. All will be peace.
As the poet says-when we've been there ten thousand years-bright Shinning as the sun- we have no less days to sing God's Praise than when we first begun. Glory to God for the hope of Eternal life and the glorious enjoyment of Haven, forever and ever. White Christians enjoy this enjoy this, sinners will be sunk beneath the ice of God's wrath forever and ever.
This is an awful thought for a soul's so precious as to cost the blood of Christ. To be lost and lost eternally without the hope of Eternal life.
Lord, Lord, saved by the purchase of thy blood. As I believe that the great judgement day will reveal some wonderful strange things to the children of men. Therefore we should work while it is called today. For when the night of death cometh no one can work. O May a Saviour's love be shed abroad in these cold hearts of ours. Then we can obey thy commands and love our neighbors as ourselves. Then we can realize that Love worked no ill to his neighbors. Lord, bind our hearts together in one bundle of Love that we may pray continually for one another and at last land our souls on the Sunny Banks of Eternal deliverance.
My prayer to God is that he will save us all in His Kingdom where we can praise him while eternity remains.
Dear Father, I am thankful to God that you take in the interest in the welfare of my little babes. I am sorry that Rachel can't content herself enough to stay at home. But I feel it is my duty to be here as my country is at stake.
Farewell Father. God Bless you all.
Franklin Roenbery
Please meet me in Heaven. Write down. Live in hope if God spares us we will soon meet again.
