Berlin Nov 17^th 1861

 

Sister Fannie

                        You very welcome letter was received and read with much pleasure I assure you. I have just been trying to play on my guitar but have given it up in disgust so I am going to write you a letter and see if I can have better success writing than playing. have been to church once to day and heard a long, dry, musty sermon that did not interest me one bit I dont like such sermons any way.

 

            There is not much news in Berlin every thing is very quiet, except when some of the soldiers get on a spree then they make noise enough for a whole army. one poor fellow of them died last week he had had an attack of the inflamation of the lungs and had got almost entirely over it so that he was arround as smart / as any of them. the night that he died he went to Winchell’s drolleries and laughed a good deal. after the show was out he went away feeling all right, but was soon taken with bleeding at the lungs and before morning he was a corpse. his remains were taken to Wautoma where he resided, and buryed with military honors. it was a mournfull sight to see the prossession as it went through town. first came the hearse with the coffin covered with the national flag he was going to defend, then the martial music muffled and playing the death march, then his company, with a detatchment of Artilery and Cavelry which brought up the procession.

 

            I suppose I am soon to commence my school if not called upon to go to the war. it is to commence the first of Dec. so that I probably shall not be in Berlin much longer than this week. Fanney, I have finally enlisted in a new rifle Company we are forming here I dont know how soon we shall be able to go. the Company / is not full and I presume wont be much before spring. I shall commence my school and then if I get orders to report myself for service they will have to get some one else to teach. our country is of more consequence than the schools are at present. I dont fear to go one bit. the onley regret I have is in being seperated from with the loved ones I should leave behind with the probability of never seeing them again, but the hope of being kindly remembered would cheer me up, while in the camp or on the battle field. perhaps our company may not be filled as men are scarce or may not be called into service in either case of course I shall stay at home.

 

            Fanny, when you write please address me at Almond as I shall probably be there some time next week. are you not coming over to Almond some time next winter.

 

but I must close least I weary your patience

 

so good by.

 

                                                                        Yours truly

                                                                                                Frank. M. G. /

 

I have just finished a letter to a dear sister

and as the hour is not yet late will toke with

you awhile, though not promising to finishing

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