Goldsboro N.C.

April 5th, 1865

Dear Parents;

I received your letter yesterday, and as I haven't anything to do right now I will answer it. We are here in camp yet, and have got our shanties built, parade ground cleared off, and are now having drills and dress parades. We have drawn new clothes so we are all slicked up for another campaign. I suppose it will start in a few days and then Bobby Lee Had better watch out.

We have just had a corps review by our new commander, General Mower, formerly of the 17th corps. Just before the review General Geary presented the Division with a Division flag, and each Brigade with a Brigade Flag.

The flags are made of silk. The division flag is a large square flag, the color blue with a white star in the center. General Geary made us a speech as he presented the flags. General Barnum then called for three cheers for the flags and three for General Geary. We gave them with will.

We have very pleasant weather here. Everything is as forward here as they were in New York Sate in the middle of July. I saw peach and cherry trees in blossom on the 18th of March. The roads are in first rate shape and as the army has been well supplied with everything they need, I think it won't be long before we are on the move again.

Our last campaign through South Carolina was very hard on the clothes. We were a ragged looking set when we arrived here. About half of the army wore Rebel clothes. Just before we came into Goldsboro, our foraging party of 15 men came across a party of 12th New York Cavalry. they made a charge and took them all prisoner. The lieutenant showed them a pass from General Couch permitting him to forage for the 149th. That was all that saved them from being taken up north as prisoners of war.

I have just received the three weekly Standards that you sent. I don't get over half of the papers that you send. I suppose the reason is that some of the headquarters Post Masters like to read the news as much as I do. According to the papers you must have come pretty near being drowned out. I hope the water has now fallen as low as the prices on the Syracuse market.

I think when we leave here that we will have communications open so that we can get our letters as well as send one once in a while. This waiting two months without getting any letters an hard tack is going to be played out.

Don't forget to write whether you get a letter or not. I hope that Georgia will be able to write the next one.