[Port Clinton, Ohio]
Home, Nov. 29th 1863
Dear Brother
I suppose I should have written to you sooner than this, but have not done so for reasons unnecessary to mention. It snowed considerably last night & is quite cold today. Mr. Wayman preached in Crislie this morning. Quite a large number were out. Ann & Kate Anglebeck came home Friday night. Father went after them & came back by the way of Sandusky. School was out. i.e. closed last Tuesday. I have resigned my posist. & am going into better business. My successer, or one to fill the place I had engaged is not yet chosen & I dont know who they will get. Wilson came home & stayed over night last Monday, but had to go away Tuesday morning. He was to leave Columbus for the Reg't on Wednesday & must be nearly there by this time. Mr. Celonson's oldest girl died Friday morning & is to be buried tomorrow at twelve o'clock in the grave yard down to the dutch church. Mr. Song had a child scalded to death about a week ago by getting into a pail of soap suds when its mother was out of the room.
Philip Shook is still very much indisposed--has to keep his bed or lounge all the time. We finished husking corn a week ago. There was a husking B at Philips last Friday & we rattled his out in short order.
Perhaps you would like to know what my "better business" is that has caused me to give up my school. Well I will tell you. It is soldiering. I have enlisted in the 9th Ohio cavalry for "three years unless sooner discharged."
I saw a Capt in Sandusky who offered me a 2nd lieutenancy if I would raise a good squad of 15 or 20 men. As I had about concluded to go if I could get a privates, corporals' or serg'ts position, the bait he offered took & spent nearly all last week recruiting. Abe & brothers, Jim Johnson & Wm Britten are sworn in with me & it is go sure.
There are very fair prospects of getting quite a number of others & I will stand a chance of wearing stripes if not straps.
We will not go away probably before two weeks. The reg't is being organized at Camp Dennison. So you perceive you are elected to stay at home. I have never felt better in my life than since enlisting to serve my glorious country & defend the Stars & Stripes.
How are you getting along with your school? Have you got your certification yet? Write sometime--fill a whole sheet & tell us something. It is getting dark & I will have to deport from my usual custom & leave a part of this sheet well. I will will write to you again before I leave if I receive one from you. I think one of the Anglebeck boys will go with us & I expect to get [unreadable] in Erie.
Yours Truly
Geo W. Miller
Lieut 3rd Bat 9th OVC
