Camp 2^d Regt. 1^st Neb. Vols./H[?]

                                                                                    Winchester Va April 9^th 1865.

 

Dear Sister.

                        Since I left home I have confined my letters principally to Etta. I have written to Lizzie twice and have sent one to my friends East Now, as it is Sunday and I have disposed of my bread & butter I will pen a few words to and the household, generally. On the day we left Berryville for this place, I was so far used up with diarhoea that I was obliged to place myself under the treatment of the Surgeon, and since my arrival here, I have been in good comfortable quarters with a very nice family, where I have had the best care and am now so far recovered as to be able to resume my duties in the camp, perhaps tomorrow, if it be a good day. Gen Tolbet has returned from the direction of Fishers Hill. as there was no force of rebels in that direction, and since we have learned that Lee is retreating towards Lynchburg, why I don’t apprehend that we shall have any thing to do at all in the final struggle./

 

We have at least 30 000 troops in the Valley and I don’t know what they are to do. Perhaps some of us will be sent to help Grant or Sheridan in their opperations down South of Lynchburg, but if we prevent any force from again crossing over into the border States, we do a good thing.

 

I am in hopes that tomorrow will bring the news that Sheridan has caused the rebels to surrender because he was desperately close on to their lines when we last heard from him.

 

Phil’ is a most remarkable man. In fact it may be safely said that Grant, Sherman & Sheridan make the greatest trio of Generals the World ever saw. America has learned the world how to fight and if history is ever written, I hope it will do these men justice, but I fear the historian will fail.

 

You get the news about as quick as we do here. Once in a while Stanton sends to Gen Hancock. When anything/ particularly good comes off, then we get the news [?]ly but as a general thing we depend on the daily papers for our news, published in New York & Baltimore.

 

This was a nice old town before the war, but the terrible ravages of battle have left their marks and many a fierce fight has taken place just under my window as shot marks plainly attest. I got a letter from Cora in a letter from Etta, and I shall write for Ada one of these days. How does Miss Dinion’s get along with light food? does she go back on beef steaks and fancy roasts? Bless her little gizzard I would just like to hug her once, but when I get home again wont I have a spree with the children? Guess not! Oh no.—

 

You must write me a few words now and then if you have time. Tell Andrew to drop me a few Sillibobbles relating to de news of de days in which we lib—and I will reciprocate at/ At no distant day in the future nothwithstanding etc etc er-her.

 

I would also state not because, oh no. but simply for reasons pertaining to da recent changes about to take place in my domestic habitation—I shall not lib where I do now, but shall remove to the next best retreat this side of the County farm. Where my relatives are invited to come and stop until tea time, when the gas will be turned off and we shall be out to see one of the neighbors—

 

Really, Sue, I am on the retrench and shall make just as much out of this thing as I can. Let me hear from you and as I suppose you hear from me often by Etta, why you must excuse me if dont write often.

 

            Much love to all

                        Yours affectionately

                                    Martin V.B. R[?]

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