Letters from Flemming
Heinrich von Flemming (1818 – 1899) was a lifelong friend of FFL. From the letters it appears that they served as cadets together and remained friends their entire lives. After his business failed in Costa Rica, FFL went for a time to live with Flemming, who had moved to the U.S. in 1859. Their letters to each other are full of humor, poetry and mutual admiration, always addressing each other in the formal “Sie” form, not as a sign of distance but of great respect.
Milwaukee, October 30, 1877
My old bosom friend!
You will have received my letter by now, which contained my congratulations on your recurring birthday on Nov. 1 and which I addressed to Königsgraetzerstrasse. When not, I hereby repeat my warmest congratulations, which are expressed in my wishing you all the happiness in the world and lasting health for many years to come. My wife and children join me in these wishes. As I’ve told you, I’m an accountant at Rindskopf again. I also informed you of Hartmann’s death. I sent you a souvenir from Milwaukee separately, as well. Krausens are doing well and send their regards. Your dear letter fro Oct. 7th was received this morning. It arrived in Milwaukee on the 28th of this month, according to the postmark.
It arrived late, but it did arrive. Its delay is excused by its long journey. A thousand times and a thousand more, I say thank you for your heartfelt congratulations. Yes, my dear bosom friend, this letter did my heart good, because I saw from it that you still think of me with friendship and a love that has lasted through the years. But it remains to be seen whether this letter will reach you, since you want to set sail again on November 8th. Well, I’ll take my chances and send you the pictures of Toni, Hans and Jutta. Toni scribbled the message herself, I had to step in for Hans and Jutta.
I see you in my mind; you look like a stalwart, well-fed retired general, no trace of the slender lieutenant’s waist. Your dear old face probably already has a few wrinkles, the mustache splits into two straight, moderately waxed points, yet your eyes gaze steadfastly into the world and your courage remains unbowed. If this letter still reaches you, please write to me immediately, also to where I should address my letters in case of a change of location. I was happy about your eldest daughter’s wedded bliss and hope the other two ladies also marry well. That your youngest son was lucky enough to come out of a shipwreck unscathed is proof to me that he will make his fortune as a sailor.
For today adieu. A thousand greetings and kisses from me. Heartfelt greetings from my wife, from Antonie, the pirate Hans and Frölen* Jutta.
Always
Your faithful friend
Heinrich von Flemming.
* “Frölen” is Platt German for “Fräulein”
Milwaukee, November 1st, 1878
My dear, old bosom friend!
Today, on your birthday, I take pen to hand to send you my heartfelt congratulations from afar. May the twilight of your eventful life be joyful, may sorrow and worry stay far from you, and may lasting health and joyful courage remain with you until the end.
Received your dear letter from September 11 on October 12, and I give you my heartfelt thanks for your kind congratulations. I found all of the news you kindly imparted to me so very interesting and I think to myself that since you are again living in paradise, you will certainly get as old as Methuselah.
Only one thing will shorten your life, that is the pursuit of wealth. If you renounce this pursuit, you will assuredly be happy.
I myself know how to acquire it very quickly, but never learned how to hold on to it. Now, for example, I am down and out again. Made about 1000 4 months ago, but during my illness I couldn’t keep an eye on it and lost it all again.
I am better now, but my limbs don’t really want to obey. No 
festering in my bones. It’ll get better again, if not, then my horoscope lied. But before I die, I will write to you again. Better dead than crawling around like a cripple.
If my health improves significantly, I think I might go back to New Orleans. I will write you then, maybe we two old gamecocks can take on fate together. Just don’t want to buy expensive things. We should just live and enjoy and, I do mean it, the world owes it to me.
My wife and children are doing well. Everyone is healthy and send you their warmest regards. Today Toni decorated your picture in the old fashioned way with flowers and gave it a big kiss for you.
Things do not seem to be going well with your lighting venture, because a Mr. Charles Lemale already contacted Mr. Ernst from there in reference to my letter addressed to you. Perhaps Mr. Lemale is your partner, then that’s fine. If he is not, you were deceived yet again. Enclosed item found in the local newspaper.
There is not much else new here. Krause’s send their regards, as does Br. Kempfer and other B. B. Many thousand greetings and fraternal kisses from me and write to me again very soon
Your
old faithful friend
Heinrich von Flemming
551 Marketstreet
The sample lamp will be sent in the coming days.
Article:
Milwaukee Street Lamps in South America.
Mr. Adam Ernst, Alderman of the Eighth Ward, is known to be a practical plumber and experienced mechanic. And, as such, he has constructed a new, improved street lamp, the advantage of which is that its reflections are very bright and that the flame in it is completely protected from wind and weather. The lamp can also be used for gas, naptha or oil lighting and is generally considered to be excellent. Recently, Mr. Ernst received a letter from San Jose de Costa Rica, a major city in South America, with an order to send one of his naptha lamps there as a sample and to include the price for 500 to 1000 lamps along with 5000 to 10,000 gallons of gasoline. The letter says that there is every prospect that Mr. Ernst’s lamp will be accepted by the local authorities and that a contract for the delivery of 1000 units will be concluded with him.
In any case, that would be very desirable and a new achievement for Milwaukee’s industry abroad. The local gas company is also in negotiations with Mr. Ernst for the purpose of accepting his lamp.
