Mobile Alabama

April 23 1865

 

Dear Sister Martha,

                                    Time and circumstances are propitious for another letter for home, so I will improve the opportunity for fear this uncertain and changeable military forbid another chance in a long while. During the week I have been quite busy. The programme commenced by moving from occupying a large store-house to less than one half of it. Part 2 of the programme was looking after hundreds of men belonging to different Reg^ts & who are seeking their commands. My part in this scene was to provide food, which was no small item seeing a fresh arrival came daily & all out of eatables. Part 3 was drawing clothing, which owing to the rough camping was in great demand. Such with many little other duties has composed the week's work. Now as to how all this has passed off, or what incidents have occurred to enliven, cheer, make interesting, or sadden this week are briefly told. The utmost order has characterized the general run of affairs. Although it is evident from from no meeting for the expression of Union sentiments, and the general appearance of the inhabitants—an appearance that is seen and not heard, that the feeling against the Union is bitter. still the people have sense enough to know that humble submission to us is to their interest. In fact the citizens admit there has been more order in the city since we came than before. But all our affairs have sunk into insignificance before what has come to us from the North. During the early part of the week we were electrified with joy over the report of the capture of Richmond, and the capture of Lee and army. Then peace, "homeward bound", a happy conclusion of this whole affair occupied our attention. But while our hearts were filled with gladness over these things, the news of the President's and Sec. Seward's death fell like a thunder-bolt upon us and changed like lightning our great joy into profound mourning. Words are too feeble for expressing the depth & breadth of feeling in the Army against this atrocity. Soldiers who are supposed to be above shedding tears, actually did do such on the reception of this sad news, and / a general feeling of the gravest sorrow rests upon the countenances of all. If God had told this Army to decide which it would accept a great defeat to the Army or the death of the President by assassination I am sure it would have quickly accepted the former. Indeed look at this calamity from whatever point you will, as a loss, a disgrace to a civilized nation, or any other view it is a great & awful affair. Soldiers, who always have to strive to observe the command "love your enemies", and to see that no injury but justice's infliction shall fall to their adversaries, and with this feeling put the strictest guard upon Rebel persons & property, feel strongly inclined when Rebel sentiment breaks out into the barbarous act of assassinating our chief to throw off all protection to the enemy and go rather for extermination than for protection to anything short of persons. So while a few days ago everybody was talking & thinking about home & going home, so now the universal sentiment is let us push these Rebs into humble submission, and to a pleading for mercy if it takes a hundred years. And while the first of the week we were aiming at courting every attempt towards brotherly feeling between North & South, the last finds us on the alert for any expression countenancing the assassination. And I am quite sure that the Reb that dare say upon the streets of this city that he was glad of the death of the President, would not live to see the setting sun, and that the public expression to that effect would bring Mobile a smoking heap before another day. It may be a sweeping judgement to mark Southern feeling by this one or two acts at Washington, but I believe it typifies something, if not much, in Southern character to-day. The Mobile people have had a meeting for expressing their sentiments against these vile plots, which is all very well, but I think by contrasting their general tone with these resolutions, asking myself why this meeting was called, and comparing my experience of most three years with these people, remembering the barbarous deeds of the South against our nigro soldiers and even against our own soldiers I fear this atrocity at Washington is sadly in accordance with the so / called Southern chivalry. It behooves us now, seeing we have lost a President we adored, and cannot recall the act, to pursue a wise judgement in the matter. It certainly seems as though this calamity will prove a curse rather than a blessing to the South, for it will tend to embitter the two parties, and so cause the stronger to oppress or vex the weaker. Neither will it tend to peace the sooner, or be the means of bringing better terms to them. Looked at as a national calamity in a Christian view I doubt not the death of the President will prove of great benefit to this people as a whole. It is hard for us to say such a calamity is really a blessing, but if we believe God holds the destinies of nations in his hand we must so consider all such events.

 

From my memoranda I see it is only five days since my last letter was sent so I will defer this for another day or two.

 

April 27 I have delayed finishing this a day or two hoping to receive a letter to answer thereby. But as the mail has arrived and no letter came I will not defer this longer. Since writing the above nothing has transpired of particular interest. Having considerable writing I have been out around very little. Perhaps you would like to have a more full description of our quarters as you do not know what a cotton-press is. In mentioning our camp I have always called it a warehouse for I knew from that word you would form a better idea of the place. It is I think a warehouse, but so much like a cotton-press such buildings here usually are styled by the latter name. Warehouses in the South always comprise a large part of the outer business portion of cities. Cotton and sugar being the chief articles of trade, the former being in bales of about 400 pounds and the latter in large hogsheads, it takes very large store-houses to accommodate this trade. These ware-houses are generally built one store high and are really four long brick sheds each forming a side of a square & facing inwards. Outside the building presents four solid brick walls excepting one opening where are hung two heavy gates. Step inside of these gates & walk to the / center of the yard and you are at the middle of a square upon each side of which are brick sheds. Such in brief is a warehouse of the South, and it is in such an establishment we are quartered. By boarding up the front side of these sheds and making apartments to suit, we have very comfortable abodes. We have got rid of the job of guarding prisoners and looking after the camp of distribution, and as our duty is guarding different parts of the city we have what the soldiers call a "soft" place. Perfect order reigns here, and as trade has not yet started the general aspect of affairs is dull. The citizens had a meeting the other day for the purpose of expressing their disgust at the assassination of the President, though they did not say they were grieved at the loss. How different on this point do the darkies express themselves! Every nigro, male and female, here seems to wear crape upon their arms as a token of their respect for Mr. Lincoln. And what makes this the more noticeable the nigroes seem to have done this on their own hook, and they are the only persons, citizens or soldiers, officers or privates, sesesh or Union that have shown this respect for the President. Our two dark servants come out in crape like the rest but none of us have ever said a word to them on the subject. The religious nigroes are rejoicing very much over the capture of Mobile, as now they can worship God with none to molest or make them afraid. To the credit of this army I must say that our General in Chief Maj. Gen. Canby is a religious man. He has appointed next Sabbath as a day of thanksgiving for our late successes, and says "I invite all to unite with me in this thanks to God" &c.

 

            Much love to you all

                                   

Your dear brother

John

 

Direct Mobile Alabama

[remark]

5/4 95 Tunbridge Read before GAR so much of this as lies between blue pencil marks

                                                                                                                                   

J.P.D.

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