Co K 1st Md regiment
June 4th 1865
Dear Mother
I thought you would like to hear from me. I arrived here on last Thursday after going through the Soldiers Rest at Washington and Alexandria. I am duly installed in this company as Sergeant. I find some dozen or so of my old company here. there is a great many duch in it but I expect to get along all right, as I have always done.
This is the only regiment remaining in the brigade as the other three went to Baltimore the day before I came here. I suppose you have seen their arrival in the papers
There is much speculation going on in the regiment about being musterd out. I have got so that / I do not believe anything I hear but am doing just what I allways have done that trust to providence thinking that everything is for the best.
I hear from good authority that our regiment will be mustered out of service before the 4th July
We are encamped about three miles from Washington in Virginia on Arlington Heights. it a grand sight to see so many white tents scattered on the different hills. it seems strange to me that the war is over and all these men are laying here awaiting their turn to go home after having wiped out this great Rebelion. yet it so and I am glad of it and of course so is every loyal man and woman I left that morning in a very bad humor but I hope you will forget it as I am very sorry for it I ought to known you had such short time / to get my things ready. I hope you and all the rest are well give my love to all home and keep a large lot for yourself. I hope before long to come home and get out of the army as now that the war is over I do not want to stay in the army. I like it much better here than I did up at McKims hospital under that mean Doctor allthough I was so near home
I am in first rate health and feel very well no more at present from your
Affectionate son
Wm H Grape
write soon
adress
Sergt Wm H Grape
Co K 1st Md Reg Md Vols
2nd Brigade 2nd Division 5th Corps
Army Potomac near Washington DC