[?] Station, N.C. April 18^th 1865.

 

My Dear Mother:

                        This morning I improve a few leisure moments by writing a few short letter to you. We are now eight miles west of Raleigh on the road toward Greensboro. Saturday April 15^th in the midst of a heavy rain we left Raleigh with the full intention of making a long day's march in pursuit of Johnson's fleeing army, but ere we had reached this place orders came to go into camp accompanied with the report that Johnson had surrendered. So suddenly did the news come upon us that it seemed to almost stupefy us. We could hardly realize it and consequently but little enthusiasm was displayed. There was however a quiet deep feeling of satisfaction that displayed itself in the beaming countenances and con- / gratulatory remarks of the men. But the report proved immature. Johnson had merely signified his wish for a conference. Accordingly on Monday and Tuesday he and Gen. Sherman met and this morning we are informed that the Southern Confederacy has been surrendered into Gen. Sherman's hands. Circumstances have caused this news, glorious as it is, to be very quietly received. We have been expecting it for three or four days. But what most tends to subdue boisterous enthusiasm is the universal gloom caused by the news of the assassination of our President. That just at the time, when peace was breaking upon the land, and when we needed at the public helm the wisdom, justice, honesty and mercy that characterized Abraham Lincoln, he should be so suddenly and terribly cut off, seems to be a dark and mysterious dispensation of / Providence. I cannot describe to you my feelings when I heard the news. Intense sorrow was mingled with a terrible desire for vengeance. The feeling the event has aroused here in the army you can scarcely conceive. The spirit of vengeance and hatred which war engenders had begun to slumber under the influence of the disposition to surrender which seemed to animate the rebels. But this news caused it to break forth with ten fold fury, and all were more or less under its influence. Terrible threats of destruction and extermination were on the lips of the mildest of men. Had Johnson not surrendered it would have been impossible to control this army. Utter destruction would have henceforth marked our pathway, and very few prisoners would have been taken. What our nation needs most now is a spirit of justice tempered with / mercy. The military strength of the rebellion is broken. The people of the South however feel sore over their defeat. We must win them back to their allegiance by kindness, by showing them that we feel no hatred toward them as a people. How unfortunate then that [faded] spirit should be aroused.

 

            If I could believe that his successor was a good, wise, humane statesman, Lincoln's death, deplorable as it is, would not seem so great a calamity. But I must say that I have very little confidence in the ability or integrity of Andy Johnson. I can not forget his disgrace of the nation by his shameful intoxication on inauguration day. He who cannot control himself on such an occasion is surely not fit to be entrusted with a nation's destiny. 

 

            Lincoln has fallen! Our noble President is no more! Well may every patriotic heart feel sad. For four years has he toiled unremittingly with honest steady purpose to [faded] and has encountered difficulties of no small magnitude and he has met them with a capability that marks him as a truly great statesman. And now when final victory was just crowning his efforts he has fallen by the hands of the cowardly assassin. A deep gloom is cast over the national [paper fold] legitimate result of rebellion.

 

Raleigh, N.C. April 20^th '65.

            Corps Hd. Qrs. are now in this city. Before you receive this you will have heard of the treaty arranged by Sherman, which / ensures the complete surrender of the Confederacy. It now only awaits the authority of the war department to make it valid. Meanwhile we remain here, all hostilities being suspended. The war is over. Peace with all its blessings is at hand. We can scarcely realize it, but it is even so. We can now reasonably look forward to the time when we shall return home. I hope to celebrate the anniversary of our National Independence at my own home. In what manner or how soon we shall be [faded] is only conjecture, but all the soldier's conversation now is of home. Camp life, at all times irksome, will now be doubly so.

 

            I received yesterday a letter from Jerusha of April 4^th. I hope soon to receive an answer to my Goldsboro letter. /

 

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Please send me about $5 in money. It is doubtful whether we will be paid off before we reach home. Meanwhile a little money would be acceptable.

 

            I hope to hear from you soon. Direct as usual.

 

            I will finish my journal before a great while, provided opportunity occurs.

                                                           

Your aff. Son,

George.

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