Mobile Alabama

May 13 1865

 

Dear Sister Laura,

                                    This should be addressed to you as an answer to the one you sent with Martha's letter and bore date of April 14^th. You may not suspect that the interim between your last two letters was long enough to wrought a change in your writing so great that I did not recognize it, but such was a fact. I actually had to look to the signature to see who was writing. Such a circumstance reminds me of the traveller who had waited long for a waiter, and exclaimed when the expected individual arrived, "how you have grown". You gave me a good long letter anyhow, and I assure you it is duly appreciated. It gives me pleasure to hear the account of your faithfulness in business. How much better such a record to that of many who divide their lives into three parts, sleep, street yarn, superficialities? Persons who may be said to be drones in this hive of earnest labor.

 

            So may your character be trained by good deeds in a Christian spirit, that it too may be a use and ornament to society. You like the rest express strong sympathy and sisterly love over my sudden sickness, and / it is very gratifying to a soldier's heart to receive such expressions of love. Accustomed to the frown and abuse of Sesesh, accustomed to little sympathy beyond the whistling bullet or shell, circumstances would almost lead him to believe the world a cheat, love a lie. So to him the little messages of affection from home are like day breaking to a wrecked mariner opening to view an easy haven.

 

            By this time I trust you look upon my sickness as nothing but what a little caution will overcome, and agree with me in thinking prudence dictates a cling to soldiering until the end. I have heard of two persons who have experienced a sickness like mine and who are now apparently as well as ever. I think you are rather down on the old maids by the way you speak of Maryette Camp's marriage. Next thing you will be condemning the whole "string" of bachelors even your brother. Now if you do that I shall just go to reckoning up your age and see if you too are not really on the list of antiquated-spinsters.

 

            Since sending my last I have received a letter from Father and a bundle of about six papers. It must be delightful to have Father "home again". I am glad Father likes his violin-bow so well. Where did Father hear I lent E. W. Jordan money? It must be a mistake for I certainly do not remember it if I have. He / wrote me once about loaning him money, but I declined & cannot recollect any other time when that subject came up between us. Father did not say whether he is to return to Worcester or not. What is he intending to do? Martha also dropped a note with Father's letter so on the whole I have just abounded in "good news from home". Nothing has happened during the week to disturb the usual tide of affairs.

 

            Slowly but surely the city opens up and a more business and peaceful aspect presents itself. The paroled Rebs have been coming by hundreds daily, and as soon leaving for their respective homes. The streets have been so crowded with sesesh officers and men in uniform, a foreigner would hardly know which held the city as conquerors. The spirit of the conquered too has been more like that of the conqueror than of those beaten. They will have to cease from a haughty and defiant air or we will commence curbing them. The bringing of a few darky Rg^ts into the city will just send their impudence down the nicest. Most every day some lady shows her spite by taking the road where our flag overhangs the sidewalk. Poor deluded creatures! Some day they will be glad to seek the protection of the Old Flag. This week has been characterized by one new event in the history of my soldiering, and that is an invitation to tea at the house of a Southerner. In a former letter I have told how I met here a family by the name of Rix who originated in V^t. Yesterday I, with three other officers was invited to tea at their house. The supper came off about 4 p.m. & we arrived about an hour before. A pleasant chat preceded the meal between us and Mr. Rix & brother. I had a very pleasant visit with the latter as he knew most every person among the old stock at M— and Barre. He knows Mr. Barker of the latter place. Our tea was your favorite dish, oysters, followed by potatoes, roast beef, baked duck stuffed, bread & butter, pickles, green peas &c after which was pie & coffee. The repast was followed by a visit which terminated about 9 p.m. During the evening a married lady, a neighbor, joined our circle for a short time, and pretty well along in the evening a Reb, a gunboat officer or private was introduced to the company.

 

            It was a very pleasant evening taken togather, and will ever have a place in my memory as the first thing of the kind in my soldier-life. I never have courted such favors from this people. Generally they have been virtually our enemies, and though they talked the strongest kind of Union sentiments I knew they were not uttering the true feelings of the heart. And here, though I might watch and seek the company of Southerners, I have not felt like doing so, knowing well the feeling of bitterness against the Yankees. Give them full swing, I say, and they will hang themselves. Yet I respect, and shall ever respect, the little true Union feeling found here

 

Monday May 15^th. A boat leaves this morning direct for NY city so if this goes as I intend it shall to-day probably this will be as quick news as you used to get from me at Memphis.

 

            Nothing particularly new this morning. Heard a very good sermon yesterday on Gen. XLII.36. in which it was shown very forcibly and beautifully that God often brings upon his people severe trials and sorrow both for their temporal & spiritual good and to carry out his great plan of salvation. Though no practical application was made of the sermon upon the present exigencies, it was so plain and forcibly illustrated one could not help from making it a thorough lesson for the present condition of the people here. The preacher—the regular pastor—as much as told them the result of this struggle was undoubtedly God's way, and it was their duty to submit to it without a mur-mur. The preachers are gradually getting around upon the right track here. They now publicly pray for the powers that be.

 

As it is about mail time I must close—Much love to you all—My health is first rate.

                                                                       

Your dear brother

John

 

Direct Mobile Ala—

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