Mobile Alabama

April 29^th 1865

 

Dear Friend,

                                    You doubtless wonder I have not written you before this. The reason I have not may seem strange to you but I must frankly acknowledge the coin and ask your pardon. When it was decided to move upon Mobile we left at Dauphine Island everything we could possibly spare, in fact we were allowed only two teams to a Reg^t and obliged at that to carry several boxes of cartridges, one or two days rations for man and beast and half a wagon load of spades. Consequently most everything in the desk, trunk & box kind was left behind. In my haste on the morning of our departure I left in the desk I stored your last letter and your address, so that one fine day soon after when I meditated upon discoursing to you upon the pines of Ala. it bethought me if I could write correctly your address. After my eastern custom I began guessing Cor of fifty something and some Avenue, but I could not make myself certain, and the more I thought the more I got puzzled until I was obliged to give up the thought of writing you entirely. I immediately wrote home for them to send me your address and had they been half as punctual about / writing me as I have to them I should have been able to pen you a letter before this. To-day the baggage we stored at the Island arrived and I improved the first opportunity of writing.

 

            Well, we have while I have been silent passed through a quick, active and successful campaign. Probably you have long before this read a full account of our doings and successful capture of Mobile. Our Reg^t was very fortunate. We lost one man killed and two wounded and two prisoners. Our Reg^t was the second in the city. And if you believe it we have lived here ever since. Indeed we are Provo Guards and the way the matters run likely to be. We are encamped in a Cotton Press near the heart of the city and withal very pleasantly situated. The people acted at first as though they expected we like old Nero of Rome would set the city afire for amusement, and must have been agreeably surprised for they admit the city is more orderly than when under Rebel rule. The people are bitter sesesh but have the good sense to keep it to themselves and treat us gentlemanly. Mobile I think one of the finest cities South. The streets are very straight, wide, shady and regularly laid out, and the poor houses are very few. It is situated on low, sandy ground and the greatest objection I see is that very few of / the streets are paved, excepting the sidewalks, therefore dusty.

 

            From the latest newspapers printed here, from the signs of the times here & there, we can see a very great change has taken place. Only a few days ago nigro auction sales, nigro whipping were prevalent, and to day all that has not only passed away, but the nigroes are wearing crape in mourning for the President, and these auction signs are blotted out with paint by the citizens themselves.

 

            The sad effects of war are visible everywhere. Most of the stores are closed for want of goods, the streets are badly cared for, the churches not half attended or kept up, the schools fast going to ruin. The North feels this war and the South feels and shows the effects. The heaviest blow afflicted falls upon the South where I believe it belongs. Our Reg^tl Head Qrs. is in a house where were sold the few prisoners Forrest took at F^t Pillow. The other nigro-soldiers taken from time to time from us were kept at hard labor on the fortifications of this city. We had a Darky Division on our right in the siege of this place and when the fortifications were carried by charge the nigroes shouted "F^t Pillow", and had not their officers used every means to prevent it, would have bayoneted every Reb. As it was I suppose the Nigroes killed several prisoners. The bay and ground in front of the fortifi- / cations were just completely stocked with torpedoes. In consequence we lost several gunboats but only few losses by land. The Army here feel very sad over the loss of the President, and in true soldier style say little but think big. I am sure this Army would have rather heard of a great defeat. Let us hope Providence will make this sad calamity a blessing to the country. Everything now betokens a speedy close of this war. It seems as though the fighting had ended already. Our greatest anxiety now is about a peace that shall be honorable to the precious blood spilt from our brave northern hearts. God forbid a sort of patched up allegiance, a hypocritical peace be the end of this bloody strife. Let us have peace that rests upon the principles that have conquered, then we may expect a happy future. By a law of Congress all the troops who came out on the 600 000 call of '62 are to be mustered out on or before the 10^th of August, so we are about 100 day men now. We are in hopes of mustering out sooner. Already our thoughts dwell often upon the happy meeting of friends.

 

            Please grant me another favor, viz: send me a catalogue of Union Theological Seminary which is in your city.

 

            Please write soon & pardon my mistake.

 

Your friend

 

No 9 University Place                                              

Direct                                      Mobile Ala

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