Congress’ 1862 ban on military bands did not eliminate certain ones attached to larger units. As a result, both John and Francis Fuller, though previously discharged, returned to the army at the end of December, 1863. They were attached to the band of the 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division of the 2nd Army Corps, where they played for the rest of the war.
In this letter, written more than a year later, John is a hardened veteran. He describes the hut he and his brother have built. Often, Civil War troops had to construct their own housing, since the army had no real facilities for making housing available in combat areas. Although he dreads another hard summer’s campaign, he is nonetheless ready for it. He uses his strong religious faith as a source of strength.
