Pioneer Corps 3rd Div 15th A.C. 
    Goldsboro N.C. April 8th 1865 
My Dear and absent Wife 
I Sit down this evening to write you a few 
lines in answer to your letter dated March 26th 
which I rec'd last night and I was truly glad to 
hear from you and to hear that you was well and in  
good Spirits I am in moderate health at present I was only  
in the Hospital at Kinston a little over a week and I was 
verry [crossed out word] tired with Staying that long [crossed out word] it is a poor place for 
me to live; and I dont think I was calculated to Soldier 
in the Hospital. I am [crossed out word] again with the Pioneer Corps so you 
can address your letters according: I have recd the most of 
of your letters that you Sent me since I left home 
about a week ago I rec'd Six or Seven that was written in 
Febuary and a few days after I got five that was written 
in Jan  I also Rec'd one from Clara Wilson and 
Sarah Kennedy that was written Jan 22nd and I answered 
it yesterday I Supose they thought I did not intend to write 
to them: perhaps Sarah will think I am quite [crossed out word] familiar 
in So Short an acquaintence: but then She commenced the Joke: 
We Rec'd Official news yesterday of the Capture and 
Occupation of Richmond by Grants forces which is 
hailed with great delight by this army and this evening 
Grants Official Report of the Richmond affair and also a 
Report that Lee had Surrendered 15,000 Rebels to General 
Sheridan and to add more enthusiasm to the good news 
there was Six thousand Rebels came into Goldsboro this 
afternoon and Surrendered themselves to the 14th Corps 
there is two Brigadier Generals and Several Colonels 
among their number: I have not heard the peticulars of 
all the news that came in this evening but there is great 
Excitement through all the camps of the different Corps 
and if you was in hearing of us to night you would 
think there was a battle going on here; for the boys are out 
firing off their guns bursting caps filling therir canteens 
with powder and blowing them up; and Cannons firing 
all around the lines: it is generally believed here now that 
the Southern confederacy is virtually gone up the Spout: 
The news is indeed Encouraging but Still I Shall be Slow 
to believe all I hear until I get positive proof of its truith 
The prospect of a Speedy end of the Rebellion never looked So 
bright and flattering as it does at present and I feel that 
peace is not far distant but I dont Expect we will get to 
go home in a week or a month but I think this Summer will 
wind the thing up for the thing is going about as I wrote 
you from Annapolis: I will write you more War news in 
my next. We have orders to be ready to March on monday 
morning but I dont Know where to and I Should not wonder 
if we did not march at that time 
I think I will write a letter to Mrs Burnett Soon I have 
been thinking of it for Sometime: I have not Rec'd any letters 
from any of my folks Since I wrote you last . 
I Saw George and Ben Pulver and Star Waters this morning 
they were all well the 25th is camped within a half a mile of 
us . I Supose probably you will be gone from Mich by the 
time this gets there I hope you will get through without any 
trouble and I hope you will have a good visit with Sarah 
  I have been promising myself to write to your Mother for 
Sometime but I have not done it yet neither have I written 
to Elisabeth or my own Mother but I must do So Soon 
Well Lucinda I have written you rather a hasty letter 
to night but I hope and I Supose it will? Interest you 
Some Well Good Bye for this time and I will write 
     soon again So be a good girl 
            I Remain Ever Your Husband 
             T.J. Davis 
  L M Davis