Co. C. 18th Regt. Wis. Vol 
 
New Berne N.C. Feb 26th 1865 
Dear Wife 
Another week has passed away and I again sit down 
to pen you a few lines as a weekly message to the 
loved ones at home in whose wellfare I am most 
interested and who are most interested in me 
We have not yet rec'd any mail and it seems verry 
uncertain when we will get any but one thing is 
verry certain, that is, we have been grossly neglected 
in our mail matter and some body is to blame for 
it but I dont know who it is. [page torn] have been here 
over two weeks so that the authorities Should know 
by this time where we are and where to send our mail 
The weather is pleasent to day it is warmer than any 
day we have had since we came here. but it has been 
raining for several days until this afternoon: it has 
now cleared off warm and pleasent and I am now 
sitting in my Shanty in my shirt sleeves without 
fire and am warm Enough at that: We have got our 
Shanties completed; mine is 12 by 14 feet and nine men 
Occupies it including myself: There is nothing of 
Importance as yet transpiring in this vicinity; only 
a few Rebel Deserters come into our lines most Every 
day: Since I wrote to you last we have Official 
news that Sherman has taken Charleston and 
Columbia South Carolina and is still 
Stiring the Rebels up at Several other places 
I Say Bully for Sherman let him drive them clear 
out of Rebeldom : Charleston the Birth place of 
Cecession has now fallen into our hands and I 
would be glad if the town could be burned to the ground 
and the ground Sunk under water So that Rebellion 
could never get a foot hold there again: but as it is 
the Rebellion is fast playing out So that their leaders 
are now appealing to God and the Niggers for Divine 
and physical aid in this their terrible and last 
Struggle: May God forsake their cause: their Niggers all 
run away and their leaders leave the country: and 
the Sooner: the [page torn] it will be for the country 
Our Army as far as I have saw of late are in best Spirits 
that I have saw them during the war and all seem to 
     in the opinion 
con cur ^ that the Rebellion cannot live many months 
longer: But I dont write you this to try to make you 
be lieve that I am coming home in a few days. for I Expect 
to Stay in the army until the war is Over but believe that 
Next fall will see the End of the war and I hope the 
end of the Service for me and all the rest of the Soldiers 
who have as mutch to call them home as I have; perhaps 
I was to blame for going Veteran but I hope it will turn out 
the best for us both and I hope we may hereafter not 
regret it; though sometimes I regret that I went home 
on furlough at all for I only remained with you long 
enough to put me in a good notion to wish to Stay longer. 
but I am not homesick how ever neither do I in 
       tend to be for I do not Suffer myself to give way 
   to my feelings. But you dont know how anxious I am 
  to hear from you it seems almost a year since I saw you 
because I have ben anxiously waiting for a letter so long. 
You may tell Susan and Hariet that they Expect me to write 
to them any more [crossed out word] : that they must write to me first 
as I have written last    If I had known the route that my 
Regt was going from Milwaukee I [crossed out] [woul] should have went 
with you to Michigan and Stayed with you a month longer 
for we was doing no good for that length of time. then I 
could have caught the Regt at Baltimore before they left 
  This is the most curious looking country that I 
was ever in: the principal [page torn] of this part 
of the State is Rosin Terpentine and Tar, which in 
times of Old was considered a legal tender for 
all dues State or national? and the collectors 
would procure himself a third class mule and 
lash on his back a pair of large gourds and proceed 
through the country and geather the Taxes due from 
the Inhabitants; I Should not like to live here 
as well as I would in Tenn or North Alabama but 
North Carolina is considered a verry healthy State 
  though the land is Generally poor and like most 
of the southern States the poor people are verry 
ignorant as a general thing : Well Lucinda I will 
close this Sheet hoping to hear from you soon  I Remain 
Your Devoted Husband		Thos.J.Davis 
Mrs.L.M.Davis