John P. DeMeritt to Julia A. DeMeritt, 23 January 1865
DL1644.14
Q.M.D 29th Wis. Inf. Vols.
Kennersville La. Jan. 23 1865
Dear Sister Bell,
In my last I promised one of my Diary Letters, and as this morning is cool enough to make setting by the fire a luxury and everything outside is so muddy nothing but utter necessity will induce me to step outside, I have concluded about the best thing I can do is to commence my the fulfilling of my promise. If so I must begin from yesterday morning & tell you how I spent the Sabbath. The only meeting in this vicinity was a sermon in a house about half a mile away by the Chaplain of a neighboring Regt, as it was terrible walking, and I wanted to read the Book of Isa, I did not attend this meeting. I accomplished my object in reading, and felt very much profited by perusing again that particular portion of God's Word. Business being dull I was enabled to pass the Sabbath very pleasantly, make it a day of rest, and religious meditation. On retiring I took a good wash all over, which alone made me feel like a new man.
Sunday Jan 29th. This week has slid by very quickly. It seems but yesterday that I commenced this letter. The reason the time has appeared so short is because each day has been full of its little duties, which have made attention to them almost incessant. I regret I have been unable to add each day a few lines to this beginning as that plan would have aided me in furnishing a longer and more interesting letter. Well, this six days have passed without one prominent incident to relate. I should except perhaps the resignation of our Colonel and the first day of our last eight months service.
To us these are noticeable facts, because in the first instance, we shall miss Col W. A. Greene who has been out with us ever since we left the State, and for a long time commanded the Regiment. And the 27th of each month is to us a great day now, as it marks the months remaining to us in the service of our good Uncle Sam. / The 27th of January reminded us that eight more months remained for us & we would be free to return to those we love and long to see. Not many more months will pass before we begin counting the days allotted to us here. Aside from these two facts the week has passed quietly by. Business has kept up a steady roll, but at no time been onerous. Time has jogged along lazily too, not even giving us daily more than half a dozen rumors about moving here or there, or whims about the arrival of the Paymaster.
We are all rejoicing now-a-days over the general aspect of affairs. The moving of Sherman towards Charleston, the taking of Fort Fisher, the falling of Gold, and the continual wailing of Reb Papers, and the numerous rumors of peace, are all very encouraging and betoken the end not far off. I am in great hopes Peace is coming very soon and thus we be sent home before September. No one seems to doubt now about our final success. Even the papers in Rebeldom admit almost, that their Confederacy is "played out". Nothing reliable has turned up here that tells us how long we are to remain here or where go next. I think they are waiting for money to come so we can be paid off, and that then we shall be sent where needed most. That may be at some point on the Miss River, Mobile vicinity, Texas, to Sherman, or anywhere else. And the change may come in a twinkling of an eye and when all least expect it. Such is soldiering.
It is now nearly ten days since your letter arrived. I hope in such long intervals between letters you will not fail to tell me particularly of all that is transpiring in the little town of M—
Our weather this week has been rather pleasant and by the appearance of more birds and the falling of less rain are reminded of the gradual approach of warmer days. I have no late news from relatives & friends.
To day I went to hear preaching at a sugar-cane mill by a Chaplain of another Regiment, which has been all the service it has been convenient to attend. I was too late to hear the text, but judged it to be "the wrath of man shall praise Him". The sermon was delivered without notes & was simply one continual recitation of certain well known incidents in the Bible with a few words showing how they bore on the subject presented.
I often think what my feelings will be, if permitted again to attend a Church, blessed by all that is convenient and attractive. How do you think you would feel, if you like me, had not been to church only about half a dozen times for over two years, and then at churches generally very poorly provided for, and in bad condition? It will certainly be a great change for me, and one as pleasing as great.
My health during the week has been fine, and everything has gone along smoothly and pleasantly. A thousand little grievances of soldiering seem now like the usual haps of life, for instance, like coming to breakfast to find the sugar had "played out" and so water was preferred to coffee. Such an occurrence would hardly be minded in soldier-life.
For want of more material I must close and next time will try to do better.
Love to all. Write weekly
Your dear brother
John P. DeMerit
Direct New Orleans via Cairo Ill.
DATABASE CONTENT
| (11284) | DL1644.014 | 165 | Letters | 1865-01-23 |
Tags: Animals, Defeat/Surrender, Duty, Food, Homecoming, Hygiene, March to the Sea, Money, Newspapers, Payment, Reading, Religion, Resignations, Rivers, Rumors, United States Government, Weather, William T. Sherman
People - Records: 2
Places - Records: 1
- (179) [origination] ~ Louisiana
SOURCES
John P. DeMeritt to Julia A. DeMeritt, 23 January 1865, DL1644.014, Nau Collection
