Headquarters, Twenty-fifth Army Corps,

Army of the James.

In the Field, Va. Febry 27^th 1865.

 

My dear Jake

                                    I received yours of the 19^th this morning. I wrote to you several days ago and you must have received my letter before this.

 

                                    I am obliged to you for that letter from Germany. As the writer seems to be rich, and his children seem to have genius and talent (for drawing dogs, at least) I am half disposed to claim relationship to him, and especially since he figures out such a grand pedigree.

 

                                    I cant say much for his handwriting.

 

                                    My dear Louisa writes me that you took her to the Opera as I asked you to do. I thank / you for it. But she says you made a remark disrespectful to my corps by calling my soldiers "niggers"

 

                                    Now you must understand that they are called "negroes" here, or familiarly "smoked Yankees" and not niggers.

 

                                    I will in a few weeks have a bully command from all appearances now.

 

                                    I wrote to Louisa to come on next Monday. I will try it and see how it goes If it dont work well, I will send her back home, and then she will feel more reconciled to it.

 

                                    From all appearances we will have an early spring and a very active campaign.

 

                                    We are expecting a row every day, and are under / orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice.

 

                                    This war is at a crisis now. If Sherman succeeds I believe we will have peace soon.

 

                                    The rebels are deserting in droves. Yesterday 2 officers 2 sergeants and six men deserted to me in a bunch. 200 deserters came in yesterday to the Army of the Potomac and 106 the day before.

 

                                    Major Michie, Graves and Lou send their regards to you all and to Bill Torrence.

 

                                    Fitch is absent, attending his sister's wedding. Lou wrote you a letter the other day.

                                                                                   

My love to all

                                                                                               

Yours Truly &c

G. Weitzel

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