Pine Woods Alabama             Apr 18^th 65

 

            Dear Brother

                        It is with pleasure I seat myself to write you a few lines to let you know that I am well and doing well it is now 15 minutes of 3 oclock in the morning and I am sitting on terafirma and useing a sack of oats for a writing desk and it makes rather a poor one one We left Blakely to march northward the 13^th of this month destination we supposed Montgomery We have carried our knapsacks and blankets evry day and it is something that we are not used to and it goes hard I tell you but I guess we will not have to do it long It is rumered that peace is declared but donot know with how much truth There has been a strict order issued against forageing and that is not common I for one am tired of soldiering and would like to quit it and go home but I am not so tired of soldiering that I would be willing to give the rebs their time It is the greatest wilderness down here that I ever saw We have been 1 month lacking 3 days in the wilderness and during that time we have captured some one of the oldest forts in the United States and some of the strongest forts with about 125 guns several thousand prisoners several thousand stand of small arms besides Mobile with all its large/ guns Generals Grant Sherman and Sheridan have not been idle while we have been doing all this they have captured Richmond Routed Lee their best General and captured the most if not his entire army they have not got but one army left and that is Kirby Smiths west of the Mississippi The rebs say we will have to quit useing our long range guns they say the Conferacy is getting so narrow that if we over shoot we will shoot clear across the Confederacy and kill our own men Corn is big enough to plow down here I feel quite sure of being home Christmas and New years if not sooner The most of the men expect to be home by the first of August but that is to quick to much of a good thing But you will know more about it up there than we do down here in the woods It is getting to be near 4 oclock I will quit for awhile

 

28^th Apr I believe I can think of a little to write now so I will try and write a little We have had sad and serious news lately with all of our good news but I hope the bad news are with out foundation It is reported around camp that Lincoln has been killed assassinated comeing as it does with all the good news it would cause deep mourning and wo be to the man or men that are guilty if caught it would not be well for them to fall in the hand of soldiers they would find kid gloves done away with We fired a salute of 200 guns at Greenville the 22^nd of this month in honor of/ Grants victories Greenville is a beatifull little town about as big as Bryna 46 miles from Montgomery We are now encamped about 2 1/2 miles north of Montgomery and about 3/4 of mile from the Alabama river Montgomery is a very nice city of about 10,000 inhabitants I should think but it is very dirty now the streets are all filled with cotton that it is scatterd all over the streets Great are the peace rumors that are about camp and strong the prospect of spedily returning home some think to be home by the 4^th of July but I will be satisfied to get home by the first of september that will make me 4 years in the service It is a very fine country around here all the people along the road had some kind of an ensign hung to the breese those that had not the stars and stripes hung out a white cloth with the words Union forever or something similar on it I have got my letters to answer but I guess I will wait untill I get home and then answer them I would not be writeing now but I have nothing to read and I want something to do to keep me out of mischief I presume that the people up there have been haveing big old times up there this spring over the news of the great and glorious victories gained by us poor cusses down here in dixie but just wait untill we get home if we dont celebrate the day that peace is made we will several days after enough to make it up I was 22 years old yesterday The boys are just agoing out to play ball and as they cannot play with out me I expect I will have to quit/ writing and go and play     2^nd May We have moved camp to within about 1/2 mile of town and to the south east side of town We now have a very nice camp and camped with all of the artillery in the Corps in one line We fired guns evry half hour all day yesterday except from 12 M to 1 PM Mourning guns over the death of Lincoln if there is any that place that his death will be deeply lamented it will be in the army I have not seen a northern papp paper or had any news as to what the world is doing for about 3 weeks get a dispach once in awhile but not often The boys most of them have fixed up shacks I have not yet donot know whether I will or not Strawberries are very plenty down here now Mulberries are ripe Green peas are large enough for use The citisens here all a say they are not whiped but over powerd and will have to sup submit They own that they are beat

May 7^th I received your letter about 10 minutes since was very glad to hear from you I am enjoying good health this summer with the exception of very weak eyes which the light and heat bother a considerable The folks in K were all well the last I heard from there The 1^st Ind Heavy Art is all right and so was Jno Hayes the last I heard from him He was at duvalls bluffs in Arkansas but he may be home before this time enjoying all the blessing of home and friends I am very much obliged to you for the photo and the stamps but I donot know the picture. We have a wicket ball that we amuse ourselves with now We are on short rations now but I donot know how long it will last we have plenty of corn and know to use it when we need it

 

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The rebs are comeing in here every day by hundred and surrendering yesterday General Pillow and two other officers come in here and surrendered to Smith They run all over wherever they like best without any restraint at all The boys all feel lively with the prospect of soon returning home a great many expect to get home by the 4^th of July I have about quit passing any thots thought on the subject

 

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The Ladies here allmost all chew tobacco and smoke pipes and looks gay I tell you to see a lady chewing tobacco Tell Lew I will fetch him a letter before long with all the latest news in it Give my best respects to all inquiring friends yours as ever

 

                                                                                                Jeff S. Loveridge

                                    Battery G. 2^nd Ill. Art. Brig. AJSmith’s Com^d

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