Ft Smith          Ark      Dec the 30^th 1864

 

                                                                                    Dear Father Mother and Sisters

it is with feelings of pleasure and gratitude that I take my pen this evening to write a few lines to you the year 64 is almost gone and I thank God that He has spared my life and that it is through his mercy that I enjoy the privilige of penning these lines to you blessed be his name I am well at present and I hope these few lines will find you enjoying the same great blessing and I hope and trust that we will be permitted to meet again on Earth to enjoy the society of each other and now I will inform you that I got two letters from you this week and one of them was written on the 12^th of Sept and the other about the Middle of nov in the last was 50 cents worth of postage stamps so you how long some of our letters are on the way and I do not know that I shall get to write another letter from this place for it is evident that we shall leave here in a short time but I do not know where we shall go but I think we will go from here to Little Rock

 

and now I shall turn to Politics although I am no Politician but I want to give you my views on the Mclelland question for you said he was your man for President and you said you thought that all men that desired peace ought to to vote for him Father I am surprised to hear you talk you said you wanted me to look at it carfuly well I have done so and in the end voted for Father Abraham and Andy and that is not all I intend to fight it out but we will now look at what / would have transpired if your favorite little Mac had have been elected the Southern Confederacy would have been recognized and we would have had the peace that the Copperheads are praying for a peace with a divided Country a peace with Slavery perpetuated that accursed institution that has brought disgrace upon our one happy land but this is not all we would then have to keep a standing army of at least 100 000 men on the border to catch runaway negroes and every one that was not caught would have been the cause of a quarrel and in the end it would be war war not at only that objection but many more here is one of the strongest that the rebles at Richmond Hurrahed for little mack and now to think that you could want a son of yours (that is fighting in the defence of his country that these same rebles are trying to destroy) to vote for such a man and stamp himself a traitor to his Country why is it that you have changed your politics so widely in the last four years then you wanted the Government restored but now it appears from your letter that you are for supporting a man that is willing to divide the Nation after we have spent so much treasure and blood to sustain our cause and when it is all most done then have it dashed to the earth but thank God he is not elected and I trust this war is almost ended and that we shall yet be a happy people

 

but I wish that I could see you for I cannot write as I could talk to you I think if I could see you I could convince you that it is yourself that is wrong but look at it carefuly as you told me to do think of / the institution of Slavery think of its evils then turn your thoughts to Secession and its fruits think who it was that commenced this war by firing on fort Sumpter think of their dishonoring our Glorious banner the flag that has been respected in every land then look what would have been the end if Mac had been elected and then take the Gospel Herald of the 10^th of Dec are read two letters in it from the pen of James Maple and then write and tell me that you are on the side of the goverment and that the soldiers have your warmest Sympathies but do not tell me that Mac is your man any more for I am sick of the name what I have written I have done after due thought and I want you to look at it in the same spirit cooly and calmly but I have written enough of that

 

we have just got the news that Sherman has occupied Savanna the news here are unimportant and shall close for to night but will try and write some more before I send this out so good night John Reed

 

Sunday Jan the 1^st 1865

            Hail to the New year I wish you all a happy new year and as I sit by the fire with pen in hand my thoughts revert to you and I long to be with the good God has spared and blessed and I feel like praising his name for all his mercies pray for me always that God will guide and keep me

 

my heath is good and I have just come off of guard this morning I was on duty from two oclock this morning untill six and now I have the day to read write and / meditate and I will tell you what book Joe and I have first the Bible and Testament the Life of Chist Christ and his Apostles with hymn books and then we have the life of Peter Cartwright and of papers the gospel Herald the New York Tribune and New York Ledger with now and then an American Messenger I am glad that I get the Herald

 

I hope we will get paid off soon as I want to send some money home and I want you to tell me how you are getting along and all the news &c &c we are still at the same place and may remain some time but as I hear the Church bell I must get ready for Church so adieu till evening

 

well the day is past and the shades of night are around me and I am still spared I attended preaching in town this morning and prayer meeting to night truly the Lord is good and I feel like praising his name for all his mercies but I must close hoping that you will write soon I remain as ever your

 

affectionate Son and Brother John Reed

            Direct to St Louis Mo

SOURCES