Pioneer Corps 3rd Div 15th A.C. 
Raleigh N.C. April 19th 1865 
         Dear Wife 
I Sit down this morning to write you a Short letter in 
answer to one I Rec'd from you last night dated Apr 3rd 
which I was verry to peruse and learn that you was well. 
I health is considerable better again and the brilliant 
prospect for an Early peace makes me feel mutch better still 
I have no additional news of importance Since I last wrote; that 
we can rely on as a certainty Gen Sherman has been out with 
the Rebel General Johnson for Several days and it is believed 
that Johnson is preparing to Surrender all of the Rebel forces east 
of the Mississippi river and that the fighting is over 
However Gen Sherman for the present: will not let the real 
State of affairs be made public: for reasons of policy no doubt 
every body seems to think that the end of the war is near at hand 
if not virtually over: but we will wait patiently and not deceive 
ourselves with the Idea of going home too Soon: we can now 
begin; plainly now; to see the end: and we can afford to be a little 
patient: though there is a possibility that more hard fighting 
may be done but it is not probable: I have seen quite a 
number of Lee's Soldiers that Surrendered at Richmond 
who lived here in Raleigh they were paroled and have come 
home and all Seem Satisfied to give up the fight and 
are mutch Elated at the prospect of peace: 
We rec'd verry bad news here night before last: to the effect 
that President was shot through the head by a Rebel desperado 
on the night of the 11th inst in a theatre in Washington and 
about the same hour Secretary Sewards house was entered 
and the Secretary and his Son were Stabbed Severely 
by another assassin neither Mr Seward nor his Son was 
dead but little hopes were entertained of the recovery of either 
The news Seems to throw a gloom over the whole army. The news 
is doubted by some who think the dispatch was sent in here 
by Some Rebels who got pssession of the Telegrah between  
here and New Berne: as the wires were cut a few days ago 
It is to be greatly hoped that the news may prove unfounded 
if it should prove untrue it will relieve the minds of an 
anxious army here: 
I have rec'd no letters but yours Since I last wrote. I 
rec'd a letter from you this week dated [illegible] of Jan which 
informed me that you recd the Rings I sent you from 
Chicago: There is two news papers printed nere they come 
out Strong for the union now since our army came in: There 
was three Rebel papers printed here they left the City with 
the Rebel army. I have made ten or fifteen Dollars this 
week selling papers; probably I will sell some more ____ 
I have not been altogehter Idle since I left home and if 
we get paid soon so I can get what is owing to me I think  
I will have cleared a hundred Dollars over my wages since 
I left home: Well Lucinda I will close for this time I 
Supose you will be in Wis by the time this gets to Detroit 
So be a good girl and I will write again Soon 
So Good Bye for the present 
    I Remain as Ever Yours Truly 
            Thos.J. Davis 
To L.M. Davis 
 
P.S. 
I found the following words: Spelled the 
                 following way in your last letter: viz. 
     pritty: Citty: [illegible]: 
       look at the Dictionary