Head Quarters Indpt Div 24^th H. Corps

                                                            Lynchburg College Lynchburg Va

                                                                                                            April 14^th 1865

 

My Dear Mother

                                    I will commence another letter to you not knowing however whenever I may get the chance to send it. I sealed and sent one to you three (3) days ago by some men that were going to Annapolis Md who had been taken prisoners and afterwards paroled by the Confederates I know not whether you got it or not but hope so. I have not received a letter from you for about three weeks allmost and I feel as though I would like one very much

 

            The next day after I sent my last letter to you Lynchburg surrendered and we started (our division) from Appomattox Court House for here on the 12^th and reached here yesterday and our Gen Gen Turner who commands our division has command of the Post Gen M^cKensie is also here with us with his cavalry. it is a very nice place and the people as a general thing all seem to be very glad to see the “Yankees” and think we behave much better (or as they term it “You alls behaves much better than our mens”) some of them even said (the most ignorant of them) that they expected to see the “Yankees” “with horns” on from what they had heard Lieut Col Potter of our regiment is Provost Marshall here and our regiment is doing the Provost duty. The Citizens merchants have allready refused to take confederate money for their goods and sell to us for our “Greenbacks” the same as they would for silver. We have captured an untold amount of property here in the shape of locomotives cars Hay and Grain. Bacon and Flour. clothing and the largest amount / of everything. All the stores that were gotten away from Richmond and all other places were all congregated here.

 

            Sunday April 16^th 1865           Appomattox Court House

You will have to excuse me this time for finishing this with a pencil but we have not any convenience for writing with ink now and I have to write this in my lap. Yesterday our division started back from Lynchburg, but our Head Quarters did not start until this morning, after having destroyed all the guns ammunition, and everything of the kind there was there we brought away 100 wagon loads of Forage Bacon & Flour down here with us. we arrived here about two hours ago about 4 o’clock having gone 22 miles but I was very fortunate this time I managed so that just before we started for Lynchburg that I got an old horse so that I did not have to walk all the way We are back here to the old Court House or near it we shall probably stay over night and then start for Farmerville going over the same ground we came up on, though it is said here now (how true I know not) that we are going to Richmond though there is nothing known that is official yet I hope it may be true and that we shall get some rest for we have been continually “on the go” for the last 15 or 16 days and I am getting nearly tired out. we captured about 5000 or 6000 prisoners in Lynchburg there are a great many Hospitals there. I received two letters from you a few minutes ago the first for three weeks one dated the 4^th and the other the 8^th I think you had better do what you spoke of about the money I think it the best thing that can be done. I thought there would be general rejoicing through the North after all the glorious news they received But I will not write much more this time as I am in hopes I can send this to morrow I dont think you would think I looked very slick if you should see me now, but I look as clean and keep so as I can under our present circumstances

 

            My love to Harry and all the friends

 

                                                Ever Your Loving Son

Direct as before)                                             Arthur

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