Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2012, 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 US 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, March 27th, 1865 It has been a long time since I have had the pleasure of writing to you knowing I should not be disturbed. I wrote you a few times when we were at Fayetteville, NC but I did not have time to write much for I did not know the mail was going till it was almost time for it to go and if I had known it in time I could not have written any more for I had hardly got through writing when an order came for me to go with an ambulance back on the road we came on the day before eighteen miles after two wounded men that belonged to the 55th Ohio they were wounded while out Foreggeing we was gone all night got back about 9 oclock the next morning one of the men was dead when we got there. We buried him and took the other to --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 2 camp we had a guard of Sixty men from the Brigade all mounted. I Received four letters from you yesterday dated Jan 29 Feb 5 - 12 - 19 I was glad to get hold of them I tell you we have had a long campaign almost two months and in some instances a hard one we have lived off the country all the time I have had just as good living as I would wish we have had Sweet potatoes chickens turkeys geese Pigs Sheep flour & meal Nice Smoked Hams all the time we eat the last of our ham last night for Supper we have Some potatoes left yet but we are drawing Uncle Sams rations now we have not been out of Honey Since we Started on the campaign hardly Sometimes the mess that I am in Six of us would have fifty or sixty pounds at a time we have got quite a quanty of lard on hand So if we draw flour we can have Some doughnuts So you See we have not --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 3 Starved on the trip Well I guess this will not be very interesting to you, Since we have started we have marched nearly five (5) Hundred Miles lived off the country all the time caused the Rebels to be to **** Charleston tore up miles & miles of Rail Road and to wind up with fought & whiped the concentrated armies of the Rebs twice once on the 16 and 19 of this Month now I Should think it was about time for this army to have a little rest don't you. our Regt was very lucky in both fights they only had ten or twelve wounded and them was slight wounds with the exception of one man by the name of Holbrook he died of his wound the next day only one man was wounded from my Company his name is Charles Smith he was wounded in the calf of the leg flesh wound. I can not think of any more to write at present I have got to write to Nancy --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Page 4 and Almon Waldo but I shall not get at that before tomorrow I had two letters from N yesterday and George had one from Almon written to both of us so I will have to write him it is only about four months and a little more before I shall be looking towards home provided I do not get knocked over in that time and do not get sick and kick the buckett which I hope I shall not I have been in some pretty tight places was the last fights we had but if I am as lucky the rest of my time as I have been it will all be right I will close for Supper is ready give my love to Father & Mother and all the rest tell Ida & George to be good children and not to whisper in School for that is very naughty George is well Sends his Respects I have just received two more letters from you dated Feb 28th March 7th I have also just Received one from Charles Stinson one of the fellows that was captured in Georgia he was at Anapolis MD at the parole Camp he left McLenna Sick at Florence do not know what State for he does not Say there is Florence in Miss one in Alabama & one in this State I believe he will be in Lowell before long as he is going to have a furlough then they will find out all about it George is well Sends his best Respects --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fayetteville NC March 12th 1865 Dear Lizzie I have just learned that a mail goes out at One Oclock they they are packing it up now I have not time to write. I am ***** and have a bully time on this March I Suppose that we go from here to Goldsboro NC or Somewhere in that Vicinity I hope this will find you all well George is well give my love to Father & Mother and all the rest good bye for this time I have got to get this in the Mail William ===========================================================================