Richmond V^a

April 23^rd /65.

 

Dear Ari,

                                    I received a letter from you this morning written on the 16^th in^st and was very glad to hear from you. it is just one week since I got a letter from you but better late then never. We are in camp on Grove road about two miles west of the city, the same as it would be to camp on the Plains out of Exeter, only we are in a splendid oak grove. I tell you Ari it is nice the trees are all leaved out, so it is nice and shady. I wish that you were out here. we would have nice times going around among the flowers. you like flowers, dont you Ari. the gardens are in full bloom here now, the same as yours are in July & August, and thay have some nice flower gardens here. All nature seems to be cheerful and happy and so dose the Army seem happy over the glorious victories that / thay have gained since I was at home. Only think if it Ari, think how we soldiers must feel to know that there is no more Confederate Army for us to fight. Both Officers and soldiers feel to rejoice to think that we havnt got to go through another campaign like last summers. imagine Ari how I must feel for when I was at home everyone was asking me if I did not dread to go back again and go to fighting, for we all supposed we must fight as the Spring Campaign was about to open. but I come back with the ful determination of doing my duty let what would come, but all that I had to do was to walk into Richmond and not fire a shot, and according to accounts we shant see another Battle field in this Rebellion. dont you think that we have a good reason to rejoice "no more blood shed." But after all of the good news and glad tideings there is one thing that saddens the heart of the soldier and that is the sudden / death of our beloved President. you say there was great mourning there, but no more then there is here. our flag is dressed in morning and all the Officers are to wear crape on there left arm for six months by order of Lieut. Gen. Grant.

 

After dinner. there Ari I have made one of the most gallant charges this noon that I ever made, but no blood spilt. I made it with a knife & fork on a plate of as nice baked beans as you would wish to attack. the Battle raged furiously for about ten minutes but I was forced to fall back from the table to rally my appetite for another charge at supper time, of whitch I expect to make for I have a plenty left for supper.

 

The weather is quite cold here to day, not freezing oh no. yesterday it was real warm. I was out getting some boards to build our houses of. we have got first-rate Quarters. I tell you Ari we are some of the F.F.V^s "dont ye know".

 

            Ari I will send you a slip of the Richmond Whig it tells all about our / coming into the city better then I can write it, so I thought I would send it to you. you can judge something about what kind of a fire there was here when we come in by reading this piece of paper. I was right behind the Cavalry going out. I got a letter from Emma Jenness yesterday. she is a first-rate union girl, aint she. I shall write to her soon. tell her if you see her. How is Elmer, is he sick with the mumps or anything else. tell me all about him when you write. my love to him. well Ari I dont know as I have any-thing more to write this time and what I have wrote perhaps wont be interesting to you so I will close. my regards to all the folks and if Elmer is sick write very often for I shall want to hear from him often.

 

Except the love and best wishes

of your unworthy Husband, in

the Army of the James.

Good-day.

Serg^t S. B.Tarlton.

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