Berlin July 21^st/62

 

                                    Your welcome letter was received and as I have just a few moments before tea I will commence an answer. I have been quite busy to day. I am all alone this week the Judge has gone to Juneau to attend court so that I am chief cook & bottle washer in the office I expect he will be gone all the week but I get along very well as business is not very pressing oweing no doubt to the hard times occasioned by the war Fanny you ask what I think of the war. I hardly know what to think. I am sometimes / in great fear for the welfare of our cause. there is no denying that our prospects are more dark and gloomy than at any time previous. we have so many traitors at the north that it is enough to clog the wheels of any Government in existence. we need more men in the field, but there is little to encourage men to enlist as long as the present policy is carried out. our army is to inactive, and the officers are to slow. we lose almost as many men by sickness & disease as on the battle field. I suppose that we have all got to go soon and try our hands at war under the new call for troops this states quota will be about twelve thousand men, which will be one man from about every thirteen that are subject to military duty.

 

            Last evening after writing the above I went with a friend up the river in a boat hunting ducks when we were about two miles from town a sudden shower came up and we had a lovely time I tell you. there was no place of shelter so that we had to set and take it. we made tracks for home as fast as possible but before we had got one half of the way we were perfectly drenched with rain we onley got one duck which was dearly paid for. we are going to try it again and see if we shall meet with similar luck.

 

            It appears that I am going to be cheated out of the sport of black-berrying after all. our people spoke of it when I was home and wanted to know if I was going to come up and go with them, but that will be out of the question as it will be impossible for me / to get away before September, and then I shall probably leave Berlin for good. I have not made up my mind where I shall go yet perhaps I shall go to war. the Judge is talking some of raising a company of volunteers. if he does I shall go with him.

 

            Fanny you labor under a mistaken idea if you imagine that your letters do not proove interesting to me. I should prize even an unwriten sheet from your hand more than a well filled from some of my correspondents. it would show to me that I was not forgoten by my friend. but it is getting late and I must bid you good by for this time. please write soon, and believe me your friend

                                                                                    Frank M. G

 

P. S. Fanny, I am ashamed of this sheet but I have not time to write another so please pardon this & I will try & do better next time

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