Home April 16^th

Sunday Eve 1865

 

Dear Brother

                        Your welcome letter was received last Monday at the same time with the glad announcement of the surrender of Lee and his army; and to night I write under the shock of the assassination of the President and Secretary Seward. Who can tell the country's sorrow? Men meet and hardly speak above a whisper. You never read or thought of, much less saw a nation so thoroughly stunned, and as a realization of the facts grows into / being, an indignation beyond any thing ever known to this people rises into expressions like this, which was uttered in the streets of Aurora yesterday and with the decided approval of all who heard it "Dares any man say he is glad of this, I will knock his teeth down his throat—I will kill him" This said one of the well known men of Aurora and one man at least—Read son in law of Geo McCollum left town for his own safety. A million of men could be reunited in a week and no prisoners taken

 

I believe that there is no more charity for rebellious offences at the north and "fire in the rear" is dead forever /

 

I can not half think of any thing besides this cursed climax of the rebellion. It seems as though the Lord was willing to grant it the opportunity to be as wicked as it would, and most eagerly does it embrace all opportunities. By its own acts it will justify our nation in all coming time if we only crush it body and soul beyond the least future resuscitation. The blood of Abraham Lincoln is death to traitors and closes the door of general amnesty at once. So I read the feeling at the north and I believe it true. But words say so little. You can imagine how we feel I cant write of any thing else to night and will let this lie over till another day 

 

Wednesday 19^th Our people are in usual health except mother who has been quite low for a couple of weeks past but is now much better Austin and myself have rented most of the plowed land on the farm and do not have a hired man yet. I cannot imagine where this letter will find you or whether it will find you in active service or not

 

Now that there only remains Johnsons army and Texas it would seem that soldiers would soon be coming home to stay

 

                                                            As ever

                                                                        Fayette

 

J A Hatch

Surg 36 Ill Vol.

East Tennessee

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