Head-Quarters, Independent Division,

Twenty-fourth Army Corps.

Richmond, Va., June 1^st 1865.

           

My Dear Mother.

                        I received your ever welcome letter of the 27^th ult on the (30^th) day before yesterday and have waited thinking I might possibly have a little news to write and now we have received a little I will write you. last night we received at these head quarters the order which we have been looking for, which is from the War Department ordering the muster out of all regiments whose term of service expire on or before Oct 1^st 1865 we received it here about ½ past 8 o'clock in the evening and it was so long I went to work copying it and it took me until 12 o'clock to / make out three copies of it one for each Brigade in the Division. but this morning I have learned something which has rather dampened my joyous feelings in regard to it which is that our regiment is to be the last one mustered out in this Division because there are on the staff of Bvt Maj Gen Turner (who commands this Division) three officers of our regiment and on the staff of the 1^st Brigade it is composed with but one exception of our officers also, and also at these Head Quarters there are three clerks and six orderlies belonging to our regt and Gen Turner says the "machine" would not run if they were all taken away so you see we have got some time to wait yet and you must not look for us very soon, though we may get home some time this month probably. the boys in the regiment do not know that we are to be the last yet, they will be some disappointed when they hear of it for we expected to be the first regiment mustered out as our time is the nearest out of any in the Division 

 

            Walton is here at these Head Quarters as a mounted orderly I got the place for him we had some cavalry orderlies here and they were relieved and ordered to their regiments, and their place was to be supplied by Infantry, so I went to the Adjutant General (which is Capt C. H. Hurd from Boston Mass) whose orders we are subject to in this office and recommended him and he told me to make a Special Order out and detail him which I done. Walton likes it very well. he has a horse and you know he likes that. he has to carry despatches from this office Orville Prouty is here also.

 

            I have the honor of being the chief clerk at these Head Quarters in the Adjutant Generals Office there are three other clerks besides me in the office I was made such by Capt Hurd the A.A.G.

 

            It is a beautiful June morning the mocking birds are singing around on the trees. first they make a noise like a brood of little young chickens and then comes / an imitation of a robin when frightened from her nest and all sorts birds even imitating the whistling of a canary almost perfect. if there was any way of getting one home I should have one sure if I could get it.

 

            The girls had not better think to much that they are going to get more beaux &c for the boys will not run after them as much as they used to do. I hope you have sent the money though I am a little afraid you have not thinking we would be coming home, for I want a little very much.

 

            But I will close for this time give my love to all friends Harry in particular

                                                                       

Ever Your Lovin Son

A. M. Stone

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