Asst. Quartermasters Office

                                                                        Morehead City N. C. Feb’y 23^rd 1865.

 

Dear Brother

                        Your favor of the 12^th inst, enclosing a letter from John W. Alligood for his Brother-in-law, Mr W^m Jordan, reached me yesterday. I can assure you that I was much pleased to hear from you and your family. I was also pleased to hear that John Alligood had adopted the wise course of leaving the Southern Army and Sincerely trust that he may not be disappointed in this action, but that he will meet with friends, and be happy. I am well acquainted with his family, and today meeting an opportunity I forwarded word to his Father of his whereabouts and what he was doing. I have also forwarded his letter to his Brother. He can rest assured that his family will aprove of what he has done

 

            We are having warm times down this way. heavy preperations are now being made at this point. reinforcement and munitions of war are being thrown in here daily, and ere long the old North State will be the battle ground. / Fort Anderson, on the Cape Fear River, Eight miles above Fort Fisher, Surrendered on Sunday morning last, to our Army the army then advanced, and this morning we have dispatches, stating that our forces had advanced on the Town of Wilmington, in two columns. at the time the Steamer left Fort Fisher for this point, one column was within three miles, and the other four miles of the Town, and perchance long ere this reaches you the Town of Wilmington will be in our possesion

 

            Genl Sherman is meeting with good success he has captured Several imprnt Town and points of advantage in South Carolina. He is in possesion of Columbia the Capital of the State, what troops of the enemy that were there left the place upon the approach of Shermans Army. thus the first place that passed the infernal act of Secession in the South has been captured without fireing a gun

 

            A Small force, consisting of between three an four hundred Cavalry left New Berne on Friday last and proceeded to the Town of Greenville and from there to Washington, N.C. they returned yesterday, with some prisoners. Among the prisoners were Major Wm E. Demill and Thomas Satterthwaite, both of Washington I mention there names, because Alligood will know them / Thomas Satterthwaite is released upon his parole, Demill, will be detained and sent North, and I hope will be boarded at the expense of “Uncle Sam” for some time, tho’ I feel sorry for his family

 

            Sherman says that Charleston is not worth fighting for, as he said, so it has proved, for upon his advance he did not even notice them. by this movement he has confounded the enemy at that place, which has lead to the evacuation of the Town, therefore Charleston for the first time since the war is free from Confederate Troops.

 

            When you write to Oliver give him my love with best wishes. Often do I promis myself that I will write to him, but really my time is so much engaged at the desk, that when night comes I am tired of looking at Pen, Ink or paper, but this does not keep me from thinking of him, for Seldom a day passes but what I think of each member of our family and wish them well.

 

            I have not heard from home for sometime past. when you get this, please read the news parts to Mother and the boys, as I shall not have time to write to mother perhaps for several days. However I shall endevor to write to her by the next mail, which will be next week /

 

Give my love to GrandMother, Mother and all at home and Mariah and the children, and my respects to Mr Alligood, whom I trust will be pleased with his Situation. you can tell him what I have here written for I have not time to write to him but anything that I can do for him, out here, will be done cheerfully.

 

            I received a letter from Sister Caroline a few days since. She is well and apparently enjoying herself at Washington D.C. She was present at Congress when the Amendment to the Constitution abolishing Slavery was passed, and also when the electorial votes were counted and read, announcing Abraham Lincoln President for another term. she speaks of returning home sometime in March. this is the first letter that I have received from her since she had been there

 

Hoping that health, happiness and prosperity may always attend you and yours, I am

 

                                                                                                Truly Your Brother

Direct to me                                                                                                    Justus

Care Capt. U. H. Wheeler A.Q.M

                        Morehead City

                                    N.C.

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