Head Qrs 2^nd Division 23^rd A.C.

Camp near Kinston N.C. March 16^th 1865

 

Again night has come dear wife and I am writing to you from the same camp. It now seems as if we would remain here for some days as there are difficulties in the way of our advancing which it will take some little time to overcome. The railroad between here and Newbern must be repaired before we can get our supplies forward and this will take some time to accomplish. From this line all of Genl Shermans army will have to be supplied with rations and hence it is a matter of vital importance to speedily have every preparation necessary to that end perfectly made. As it is we are living from hand to / mouth, and are compelled to haul our supplies by wagons some eight or nine roads[sic] over such bad road, that one thousand pounds is the most that can be taken at one load. This with such scanty and indifferent transportation as we have makes our existence here difficult and will entirely prevent such an accumulation of supplies as will enable us to push forward at present. We have a very large number of men at work however on the railroad and hope in a few days to hear the whistles of the locomotives at the train. Then a bridge must be rebuilt. Time and perseverance will overcome these difficulties and then we march on. By that time Sherman will have reached communication with us so that we can support each / other. When this occurs I cannot see what there is in the shape of an army in this region that can resist us. Today I read the extracts from the Richmond papers contained in the New York Tribune of the 10^th inst and they clearly show how great is the extremity to which the rebels are being reduced. They admit openly that the senate are taking measures to submit by inducing Davis & Stephens to resign, & threaten in that event that Lee will usurp the supreme power and still carry on the war. Despair and dismay prevail among them and we may hope that this state of things will lead speedily to its natural result in their total defeat and submission. God grant that it may come soon and without shedding more blood. My hopes increase with every day, and I look forward / with earnest longing dear wife to the time when this end shall arrive as one of great happiness to me in being able once more to go to you. I am always impatient, and as the end seems to approach I bear less easily the delay which must necessarily occur before any such result can be reached. No letter from you to day. Tomorrow I look for a mail & a letter. May it bring me good news from you and of the war. Remember my darling what I have written in regard to the care you must take of yourself. When I return I want to see my little wife as handsome as ever, and not broken down by bad health. I have not received Larz Andersons letter which you say he has written. Fred is well. I have told him I would take him upon my staff should he desire to quit his regiment, but he prefers remaining where he is. Love to Lindy and the children with loving good night kisses to darling wife                      M^cLean

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