Metropolitan Hotel

New York March 4^th 1864

 

My darling Louisa

                                    I have pinched your picture and it dont holler. I have bitten it and it dont holler. I have kissed it, and it dont return my kisses. I have hugged it and it dont return the hug. So you just consider yourself pinched, bitten, hugged and kissed. I have been dreaming about you all last night. I was at home and had only twelve hours to stay. You and I sneaked away from the rest of the folks and went in the front room up stairs in your house, and we had such a pleasant time. But, alas, it was only a dream. 

 

I have written you already four times. This is the fifth time. Did you get all my letters? I wrote twice from Columbus. Once from Auburn, and once from Thompson, in Connecticut.

 

            I left Thompson last Monday morning and reached the city the same evening. I telegraphed to Washington to get permission to come there, to see whether I could'nt be ordered to Gen^l Butler and to call on some friends there. As I received no reply, and going on the principle that silence denoted consent I started for Washington on last Tuesday night and got there on Wednesday morning. About an hour after I got there, I met an officer an old friend of mine, and he / told me that the Secretary of War was in a very bad humor, that he had refused me permission to come to Washington, and advised me to go right back or if Mr Stanton found out that I was in the city he would certainly have me arrested. So I started right back here. It seems there were always a great many good for nothing officers loafing around Washington and Mr. Stanton was determined to put an end to it, even if good officers suffered by it.

 

            During the few hours I was in Washington, I learnt that Gen^l Butler had several times asked for me to come to him. But Mr. Stanton don't like Butler, and he said he would not send me / to Butler, unless I asked for it in writing and Gen^l Banks was willing. So I leave for New Orleans to-morrow afternoon on the Steamer "Evening Star". I have no hopes however that Gen^l Banks will consent to let me go because he told me once before he wanted me to stay with him. Now my dear, dear Louisa you must sit right down the first spare moments you get and write to me. Address your letter as follows.

 

Brig. Gen^l G. Weitzel

Care of

Maj. Gen^l N. P. Banks

New Orleans

La.

 

I am overwhelmed with visitors and callers here. A great many of my officers and soldiers are here, having re-enlisted. Everybody down in New Orleans thought I was with Butler. My officers and soldiers are nearly all crazy with delight because I am going back there. They all said they thought they had lost everything when they saw in the papers that I was ordered to Butler.

 

            My dear, do you know that it was already known in Washington among my friends that I was engaged to be married to you? It is so, a young lady, the sister of an officer stationed in Washington, was on a visit to some friends in Covington. She heard it there, and wrote it to her brother and he told it to all the officers and ladies who knew me.

 

            Oh I wish I could kiss you, you naughty girl, or bite you! /

 

My love tell Jake Pfau that bald-headed second father and brother-in-law of yours, who keeps a wholesale rifle-whiskey and manufactured-wine establishment on Main above Sixth st, and who lives on Ninth st. that I called on Mr. Geo. Stedman. He was not in. He had just left for Cincinnati. And tell him that Mr. Helmer has gone to New Orleans and I expect to meet him there.

 

            An old friend of mine, one of the Wall st. Bankers, is going to take me out to a drive in Central Park this afternoon, and afterwards I am going to drive with a parcel of big bugs. I wish I were through with it already. I hate these things, but / can't get off. I went to the Opera on Monday night. The piece was a comic opera called "The Postillon of Lonjumeau". Miss Caroline Richings was the Prima Donna. I'll cut my head if you cant beat her singing, and these people nearly went crazy over her. I was disappointed in the singing.

 

            Now dearest [non-English script] Louisa, write to me right off and tell me all the news. I am going to count the days till your letter comes. You'll get this about Tuesday I expect. Give my love to all. You know who I mean by all, and with fifteen million kisses and hugs and pinches and bites all for love however

                                   

[non-English script]

Gottfried

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