#81



		Camp at Raleigh N.C Apr. 18, 1865.
Dear wife Raleigh is ours without a fight. Lee
has surrendered and the report is that Johnson
has accepted terms of surrender. this is glorious
news, but we are sad and gloomy this morning
indeed the news is awfull to think of it renders
the army almost frantic for revenge. the news
is that the president is assasinated in his
own private box in the theatre this will
cast a gloom all over the land. The Country
needs his clear head and magnanimous heart
to carry the nation through her trials but 
perhaps God will give us another with as
clear a head and as good a heart Thank God
Sherman and Grant are at the head of the armies
we will surely conquer yet and the government
will yet be saved. We came into this
place April 14th after a march of 4 days 
from Goldsboro Johnson retreated without
fighting he has about 40,000 men while Sherman
has about 150,000 men to pursue him this
place is well fortified and if he could
fight anywhere it is here but there is no
use of their trying to fight any more they
must surrender I expect they will turn to
the assassination and guerilla warfare

Well we must be prepared to meet them and
wo to them if that is their plan I am
well as ever the Rail Road is open to here
this morning this is the first mail that
has went out and we only got the news of this
about 10 minutes ago So you see I have
informed the first opportunity you must
excuse all mistakes and bad writing for
I am writing on my lap and a small Book
about half as big as the paper that I
write on the army had a skirmish
out from Goldsboro April 10 about 10 Mi
from the latter place but we was so
far in the rear that I did not see any of
it I saw one wounded man and that was
all we lost five or six men in killed and
wounded while the Rebs lost quite heavy
we was called on to build a bridge across
a swamp, on the battlefields and in the woods
we found seven or 8 dead Rebs and some
wounded Well we left them there to take
care of themselves  Well I must quit and
say good bye for it is mail time
from your husband to his loving wife
			Simeon A. Howe