D.C. Spaulding
      April 26th 1865
City Point   City Pt Twelve Miles from any
VA  where especially Civilized People
and where Rebels are thicker than
Grasshopprs in a dry Summer
and where Lice and Flees are can be
Scraped up by Scoopshovels full
and the sun almost Bakes a fellows
Brain and I dont know what Else
Va Apr 26th 1865
	Friend Frank
		Excuse this Heading
  for I feel just so this is the first
opportunity I have had to write and
I improve it I had a good time
in N.Y. you may bet I did. left
there Mon 17th Via N.Y. City Newark NJ
Trenton Philadelphia and Baltimore I
was in N.Y. City the day the Presidents
funeral was at Washington the City
was Crowded every st and Lane was
filled and all told of the awful woe

that had befallen us Friend and Foe
alike seemed to mourn his loss
I was also in Baltimore the day his
Body passed and there was another
such a crowd although it rained
almost everyone turned out and he
was conducted from one Depot to
the other with Military Honors escor-
ted By two dragoons of Cav. one Battery
one battalion of Militia one of Veterans
and one of V.R. Co. two Brig. Gens. and
a No of line officers and to the rear of
this passed the Corpse and the Relatives
I could not see much there was such 
a crowd I arrived at Camp Parole the same
day and was started for my Regt the Next
day. I suppose you have heard that the
9th S.C. was ordered to Washington and what
it is for I do not know some say to be discharged
some say for an Expedition to Texas or
Mexico and you how rumors will fly in
camp. I came on to Alexandria and then
I met the Regt. but they would not let me
stay with it. it would not be military

I must go to City Pt and then come Back
to Alexandria again. well this was on
Sunday last and now comes the [Pinch?]
Sunday Night while all were asleep I
was a dreaming of being at home again
in N.Y. with Frank when my dreaming
was stoped by a Crash the Yells of the
Drowning of all the sights I ever saw
was then some praying some swearing
and the like I never wish to witness
again the Boat that we run into sunk out of
sight excep her Masts the Crew was
nearly all drowned fifty five of our crew
Paroled Prisoners Mostly wer drowned and
the Remainder of us was picked up the
next Morn by the Warrior what there
was of us alive were happy fellows
you may believe. this transpired about 
Midnight there was no moon and it
was very dark we could not see the other
Boat all we knew about them was their
screeching and crying for help. Oh,
put me in Battle where the Bullets
are lying thickest or put me to the

cannons Mouth even. but deliver
me from ever witnessing such a
scene again. well enough of this suffice
it to say I am on terra firma once more tell
Gust that a certain young Lady stole his Photo
from me while in N.Y. you know how photo
stealing works but I was not lucky enough
to get it again as you was: Frank if the 9th
A.C. are a going to remain at Washington come
Back to old Co. G. wont we have some gay
times? yes I guess we wont: but if you are
not gone come. write will you direct to
Co. G. 8th M. I. 1st Div 9th AC as usual
I shall be there in less than a week I did
not give a good description of that Catastrophe
I cannot with pen and Ink you may see it
in the Paper the Names of the two Boats are
the Massachusetts and the Black Dimond
Excuse this poorly written letter you
know how writing on your knee goes
give my Respects to all the Boys for instance
Shaw. Savage Holmes Holbroke [Crerry?]
Reynolds Pierce and I cant Mention them
all and Except this from your old Friend
			Spaulding
PS tell me if you can what is agoing to Become
of the 9th A.C. and let the folks know I am
alive				Dewitt