Goldsboro N.C.

April 6^th 1865.

 

My Dearest Etta,

                        I have another opportunity for writing and shall improve it by writing a few lines to you. I shall not promise a good letter for my mind is to much occupied with the glorious news rec^d to day from Grant, it fills my soul with joy. The Bulliten at Hd. Qrs. bears dispatches from Grant to Sherman stating that he has captured Richmond with 25,000 prisoners and 500 pieces of artilery, also that Mobile has fallen before the Veteran Army of Thomas and Granger. Is not that Glorious. I consider the war over now. the rest is easy. there will not be any more fighting. the enimy is routed from behind his works, and forced to take the open field, and he has not men enough in the whole confederacy to whip Sherman alone. we will soon crush him and then return to our homes. Dear Etta I shall if God spares me be home before long to enjoy with you the peace I have fought so hard to maintain, wont that be glorious /

 

To day Dear Etta is the aniversary of one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on this continent, in which I am proud to say I took an active part. It was one of the most important Battles of the war, if not the most important, for it was not only a trial of the prowess of the two armies, but it decided which should be the army of invasion. if the enimy had defeated us there and destroyed our army (and defeat was utter destruction there) they could have marched unresisted to Nashville, Louisville, and comenced an invasion into the Northern states before we could raise an army to oppose them. it was a narrow escape they came very near driving us into the river. Oh how well do I remember my feelings when I saw the long lines of the enimy marching up in the face of our fire, replacing their men fallen men with new ones, and compelling us to move back in spite of our determination to remain firm. And when I saw my comrades falling on either side and heard the order given in tones which touched the heart / of evry man who heard it, to fall back slowly and contest evry inch of the ground, and when night came and found us on the very bank of the river with the enimy on all sides of us, I felt as if I could die on the spot. I thought I would rather die than be defeated and I guess the whole army fealt the same way (that is all except the shirkers and cowards who were huddled up together on the river bank trembling with fear, some of them even went so far as to jump in the river and drown themselves)

 

I say the fighting men of the army fealt that they would rather die than be defeated, for just about night they took a stand, a dogged silence prevaded all along the lines, not a man would speak. the rebels were prepareing for another heavy asault and we were determined to check it or die in our tracks. We looked in each others faces and saw determination stamped in the features, but not a word was spoken. we waited in breathless anxiety for the rebels to make their grand charge. We did not have long to wait, they came shouting and yelling we heard their shouts in silence but stood / as firm as a wall of stone, and poured volley after volley into their well filled ranks. But still they came, we could see their bayonets glistening and pointing toward us but not a man moved Gen Grant and staff sat on their horses in the rear of our line but said nothing, his preasence was encouragement enough. the rebels came on until they saw our line was immovable and then began to waver and halt. some would drop behind, others wanted to come on but dared not risk it without their more timid comrades. now was our time and our Generals saw it. Gen Grant was soon flying along the line as fast as his horse could carry him speaking words of encouragement to the men and giving orders to move forward en mass on the enimy. we had no sooner heard the order than our bayonetts dropped and with one loud long and almost deafening yell, which contrasted strangely with the mingled sounds of the roar of musketry and loud booming of artilery which shook the earth, we moved forward driving the enimy before us and turning the tide of battle. we advanced ½ mile it was

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