#82 Camp near Raleigh N.C. April 20th, 1865 Dear wife I improve the present to write to you I am well we are still near Raleigh the armies are not moving any at present Gen Sherman announces that a movement is on foot with Johnson and other high officials of the Confederate authorities to make peace all over this distracted country – God grant it may be so if such is the case there is hopes of our getting home again sometime this summer. We will say in July or August I will give you a little detail of our march from Goldsboro to this place we started on the morning of the 10th of April 1865 and marched untill nearly eleven oclock very briskly then we began to hear the cannon boom indicating that our advance had come upon a force of the enemy We still continued to advance and the enemy to retreat untill after- when noon untill we came in sight of where our cannon was planted then we came to a halt we could see our advance cavalry maneuver but could not see the Enemy at last Sherman 82 came upon the ground and ordered a flanking party out and at the same time sounded a charge with the Cavalry. Well the result was there was a thick swamp about 80 rods wide lay back of the rebel entrenchments and to save their necks they never stopped to fire a guns but broke for the swamp we only lost five or six men during the day while the Rebel loss must have been five or six times that amount we were called up about midnight that night to build some crossway through the swamp to get the wagon trains. Across and in the woods we found several dead and wounded rebels all mortally wounded so we did not bring them back for we could not send them back nor take them along. Well we were not in sight of any more Rebs on the march we could hear the distant booming of cannon every day on the march as the Rebs retreated as we advanced Sherman advanced his army in four columns all in supporting distance of each other and the rebs could not check the advance of any one of these columns or even Killpatricks Cavalry. Apr. 20, 1865. 82 They were strongly fortified at this place but dared not make a stand for Shermans four Columns were advancing on the place from four different ways so poor Rebs had to skeddale withouth stopping to fight and his (?rear) left the town so the citizens say the same morning that we came in the Citizens say they never saw one quarter so many men together before in their lives They report Johnson with only about 35 or forty thousand men while Sherman has one hundred and fifty thousand. I think Johnson must surrender if they dont agree to terms now wo unto the Country that the army has to pass through for they are frantic for Revenge for the death of our President he was the nation's pride he was another Washington the last great act of his life shows his nobleness of heart and his Christian spirit when the rebellion was almost crushed and all were sure that it must be drawn to a speedy close he proclaims pardon to all the wicked instigators and says the glory all belongs to the skillfull Generals and the officers under them and the brave men in their commands. And says amid 82 all this rejoicing we must not forget to remember the God that has watched over all the great struggle for freedom and appoint a day for which fasting and prayer wil will be prepared in due season. I think him a good Christian and an ambitious man forgiving in spirit as a child his name will live in history and be honored as one of the purest of mankind. I would like to see you all very much what good times we will have chatting over all our troubles and all our joys in each others absence. I have not had any pay since last Aug. and I dont mean to have any untill we are mustered out now and if I get my pay all up when I am discharged why I can bring home [illegible in original] 300 dollars if all goes right and if I am not mustered back of the mistake in my muster Rolls so I can get the rest of the big bounty. I mean to put up a small frame house as soon as I can after how getting home I dont know whow much you have saved since I have been gone and dont care for I know you have done the best you can and that is enough I shall have to buy the little boys some nice little presents Well I must stop for want of room and Apr. 20, 1865. say good bye for this time kiss the children for me and take one yourself. Good bye and may God bless and watch over you and me. from your husband Simeon A. Howe to his wife C.E.P.H.