General Post Office
Washington, Oct 30th .62

Dear Kate,

       This finds me still at the Post Office and I hope it will untill they get ready to send me home, for I like it the best of any place that I have found. The boys that you know are all well, myself in particular, and hope this will find you the same.

       I wrote to William and Lucretia only the day before I received yours. I had nothing else to do and so thought I would write to them. Will wait now untill I hear from them. I made as much calculation in haveing it pleasant there and with Frank and Lydia as any place in Triangle, but you must try and enjoy yourself at the rate of four knots an hour. That will make up for you and me two.

       I do not hear from home as often as I would like to, but must content myself to wait untill you get home again. I supose that our folks are there before this, and they will go around with you, and Mother will help take care of the children . Wish I could but there is no use. Perhaps you may think that I am getting home sick or have a mind to try Mart's plan. I have neither but still wish that I could be with you and the children, and if the Lord wills I shall be sometime and that is a great consolation.

       As a general thing we have the pleasants weather that ever I saw. Last Sunday it rained all day and night and was quite cool. It has been pleasant all the rest of the time scince we came here with the exception of two or three showers.

       I have just been called off, as my corporal took a hack drivers horse and led him out of the way and I went and seen the Luient about it. You see we are here to keep civilians away so the Government trains can load and unload. Sometimes we have all we can do (by the way, the Lieut here is a regular and an Irishman at that and I am little searg) but I shall get along with it some way. The fellow said he should report the corporal. Cannot tell how it will terminate. Think all for the best. I tell you if it was not for the extra pay I should prefer a private's situation. For all mine I get 17 dollars per month. That is better than 13, but perhaps I shall get promoted to the ranks. Then it will be less again. If I draw two months pay before long I will send it out and have you pay Laura. Then that will be paid.

       I think if our folks get there before you go to Otsego and you go to stay three or four weeks, you had better take the horse with you, as he will have a chance to rest out there if they will take care of him. Have your Pa get a light wagon and they go with you. I think he would draw you all well enough, and it would be better for the horse unless William W. or Frank wants him while they stay there. If Pa takes care of him I am afraid he will not look very well when you get ready to go home again.

       I think if I could be there to drive him he would look different than he will now, but do the best you can is all I want, and I know you will. I wrote to Dan as long ago as when Harry was here. He must have forgotten it before this. If he has, all right. Tell Wm W that I shall look for a letter from him every day untill I get one.

       I do not have much to do and so have lots of time to write, if there was any one to write to, but I have got around all but Frank and Lydia. I shall write to them some day before long. Then I shall wait for some one to write to me.

       It looks strange to me to go into the markets and see the flowers. They are as plenty here now as they are in the northern citys in midsummer. It looks rather strange to me but I shall get used to it sometime.

       I have no war news as you get it in the papers before we do here, in fact before it happens. But surely I think there is something going to be done before long, as McClelans army is in motion again if reports are true, but I suppose that you keep posted on war matters now days so I will close by wishing you a bully good time.

Write often and oblige your,
Bert
way down in Dixie
I write so often I have nothing to write new this time
Did you get the picture I sent some time ago and did the children know it? I forget if you said anything about it.

[along the margin in pencil, very faint, in someone else's handwriting] Dear Kate, I have open this read it, don't be mad wrote Bert a long letter yesterday and send it today. When are you coming here for I would like to see you and the children Lucy M

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