Mobile, Ala.

April 16^th '65

 

Friend Nevyus—

                                    As I am not on duty this Sabbath evening and have no place to call, I will do the next best, Viz. write a line to an old friend. I received yours of March 3^d two weeks since & was happy as I ever am to hear of your welfare & should have written before but Uncle has kept his nephews in this department somewhat busy for the past month. But now our months work is over as you will see by the papers long before this reaches you. Not so bad a job done either I think. We had it a little rough across the bay from here at forts Spanish & Blakely but the 161^st didn't see much of it as / they were on detail at the steam boat landing four miles from the forts from the day we arrived until just before we left. My C^o had a better thing still, being guard with the supply train of our Div. On the 9^th the Regt came up & joined the Brigade & the next morning our C^o was returned to the Regt. At 8 O'Clock the same night our whole Div. (1^st) and part of the third moved back to the landing having to march all night to do it. Just daylight we got there and went immediately aboard the transport "Col. Cowles" which with several others and five or six gunboats were at the dock. It took till after noon to get all the troops aboard the transports & then we all moved across the bay below Mobile the gunboats taking the lead. When almost across one shot was fired by the advance boat when the white rags could be seen in profusion on the shore. Of course there / was no chance for further argument and we landed quietly & peacably 7 miles below this city. it took till night for the troops to land & at sundown we started for town the Mayor having come down & formally surrendered the city. We marched 5 miles & stopped for supper & was then ordered forward to occupy the Rebel works north of the city At half past eleven on the night of the 12^th we were marching through the streets of Mobile to the tune of Yankee Doodle played with a will you may believe. A few and but a few of the inhabitants were out to see the "Yanks" pass. Some of them thought we were funny looking chaps, and the little boys thought it a big thing to get close enough to touch us as we passed. We are in camp at the outer line of the Rebels works just outside the city & strong works they are too. There is no use their talking, if the couldn't hold / these works they can't any. Tonight we have the New Orleans paper in camp with the official report of Lees surrender to Grant and the boys are feeling well in consequence. They begin to think that the war is over God grant it may be so. I haven't seen Wilson since leaving Blakely as he stayed back with the Ambulance train but he was all right and feeling well when I did see him. I must close as it is most time for Roll Call and then to sleep We need sleep too for they are putting the duty right out to us just now our Regt. furnishing a hundred men for picket daily but it will come lighter after affairs are organized a little. We are good for it till such a time shall come

 

And now a soldier boys good night to you with respects to yourself and

Mrs. Nevyus.                                                              As ever for the old flag

                                                                                                A. U. Brown

            Peter Nevyus                                                                           C^o "F" 161 N.Y.V.

                                                                                                                        N.O. La.

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