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Raleigh, N.C. April 21st 1865 Dear Parents; I received your welcome letter of the 9th yesterday and the pins and thread. I think I can supply the 149th in pins now, for I suppose we will have to stay in this part of the country for a month or two. General Sherman has issued an order saying that he expects to send us home in a few days. It seems that General Sherman had made arrangements with General Johnson to surrender all the Rebel Armies, and if the authorities at Washington agree to it we will all start towards home before long. We heard of the murder of President Lincoln on the 17th. We could hardly believe it. Its a good thing the Confederacy surrendered when it did. For if the army had got into another battle with them there would be few prisoners taken. We are camped about a mile from Raleigh and I suppose we will stay here until we start for home. I never thought that any of us would get home before our time was up, but the events of the past month have altered the cause considerable. I think now that the 149th will be in Syracuse about the first of July. General Geary says that General Sherman will march his army through Washington in a few days. If I get there we will have been the rounds. I wrote on the 17th and gave you most of the news so there isn't much to write about at this time. You wrote that you could buy the Cliff's swamp for $200, I think that's cheap. Oliver |
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