Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2011, All Rights Reserved U.S. Data Repository Please read U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== U.S. Data Repository NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization. Non-commercial organizations desiring to use this material must obtain the consent of the transcriber prior to use. Individuals desiring to use this material in their own research may do so. =========================================================================== Formatted by U.S. Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== From William Howes to his wife, Lizzie =========================================================================== Camp Near Goldsboro, NC Dear Lizzie April 6th, 1865 I have received two letters from you lately one of the 19th of March & the other the 26th I am glad that you are getting so Stoi* & rugged I hope I Shall find it as you Say if ever I come home I am not getting very **** My health is first rate Our Division was reviewed today by our new Corps Comander Gen Mowery he came to us from the 17th Corps while they was being reviewed a dispatch came that Richmond was taken with 25000 prisoners & five hundred Cannon Such cheering you never heard the boys all feel good over it and Well they may for it has cost many good men their lives but I hope it will put a finishing blow to --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 this rebellion I do not know of any thing to write that will be of any interest to you. I Suppose we will March in the course of a few days probably by the 20th where & how far we are going I do not know but in all provability we Shall go towards the enemy and that is in the direction of Virginia we have been a good many hundred miles Since we left that State and now we have got almost back into again we are only 150 Miles from Richmond that no work at all for old Billy to March that he calls that a Short trip you heard that Sherman had been repulsed you got all your news from Rebel Sources he was not repulsed at all I was present at both fights the 16th & 19th the 16th two --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 Brigades of our Division chargd then and took their works together with three pieces of artillery that they do not Say any thing about the 19th the throwed their whole force on the advance of the Left Wing the 14th Corps and gained a very little advantage for a Short time but our Division come up and made them go for their holes in quick time they retreated in the night So if you call that a Success I do not know what defeat is I was calculating to write to Almon to day but Shall not get time for I have yet to begin to get things ready for a March Lieut has just been giving orders to me what to have done I Shant proably get time to write him while we stop here if we go as Soon as they expect I ought to write --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 to Nancy and wil the first orpertunity if you write to her give my love to her as for writing to Em I can not at present rather poor encouragement to write and not get any answers from them as for Silas I do not know any more about him then you or She does I have not seen him since we left Savannah he was here Yesterday but I did not See him I was out in the Country after Corn his team has been turned over & he is at Corps Head Quarters detailed as painters for Marking the Wagons and Such like as for his Steadiness I not know but he is Steady as the average run of Soldiers in fact I do not Know any thing about him you can write to Em & tell her what I have written if you want to --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 5 well I will not write any more about him I have a little gold ring that was dug up in a box in Winsboro, S.C. that I am going to send in this letter to Ida tell her She must be a good girl & have her teeth pulled like a lady tell Georgy that I will See that he has Something nice when I get home give my love to Father & Mother tell them that I can begin to Count the weeks pretty easy now only about Seventeen more that does not Seem like 156 Weeks My love to all the rest and except this from your true and loving husband William excuse all Mistakes for I am in a hurry =========================================================================== ===========================================================================