Letter from Thomas Moses, Jr. (3)
Hd. Qrt. 16th N.Y. Battery
Near Raleigh, N.C.
April 23, 1865.
Dear Parents,
Brother William received a
letter from Sister Martha the day before yesterday. It is with pain that I learn that Father is sick. I hope that when next I hear from home that
he will be well. I am happy to say that
all the men from H.V. vicinity are well and in the best of spirits. We have had nothing but good news for the
last week (with the exception of the assassination of President Lincoln.) We have at last come to the conclusion that
this cruel war is over. I hope that
Brother John is safe and sound. It is
expected that all the troops (except the 10th A.C.) are going North
in a few days. And this Corps is going
to remain here to garrison the place.
This is quite a pretty place, but nothing to what you would expect for
the Capitol of the state. There is a
great many officers and men around here that came from Gen. Lee’s army, they do
not have much to say, most of the privates are sick of the war and are glad to
get out of the army on any condition.
The news of the assassination
of the President of the United States was a heavy blow to us all. We could not believe it until yesterday we
received the New York Herald of the 17th Inst. which contained all
the particulars. If it was the
confederates that did the deed, it will be the worst deed they ever did, for
Andrew Johnson believes in punishing treason, not pardoning it. They will not get out of their old scrape so
easily as if Mr. Lincoln had lived.
April 24, 1865
I did not finish my letter
yesterday so I will try again. We have
got marching orders. We move on Johnson
tomorrow. It appears that his term of
surrender was not accepted in Washington.
We will accept nothing now but an unconditional surrender. The men are all eager for fight, and I pity
the Johnies if we get at them again.
They all expected to go to their homes, and they will go in to a fight
with a determination to wind the thing up at once. And more they are very much exasperated at the death of our
President and will avenge his death. I
rather think that Johnson will surrender every thing than to stand a fight for
we have a superior number and the men are almost desperate. They are only going to issue half rations
and we must forage in the country we pass through for the other half. There will be some tall foraging done. They will strip the inhabitants of
everything eatable.
Oh! I sent my commissions
home by Sergt. Bogart. He lives in
Binghamton. I told him to leave them at
Hillors the baker’s. I never heard
whether you got them or not. When you
write again please let me know. And send back my discharge that is with them as I need
it to get my pay or my final statement.
It is rather a busy day with us today so please excuse a hasty letter
this time. I remain as ever your son
Thomas Moses
Address:
Thomas Moses
1st Lt. 16th N.Y. Indpt. Battery
2nd Div. 10th A.C.
Near Raleigh, N.C.
P.S.
Remember me kindly to all
enquiring friends. My love to all the
children. I will write to you all soon.
Tom
Footnote to Ida Moses (53)
from Thomas Moses, Jr. (3)
I send you this old letter
written 56 years ago. It will be quite
a curiosity in time to come. Mother
saved all the letters I wrote while in the Army and after Father’s and Mother’s
death Charley gave them to me. There is
also one that my Sunday School Teacher wrote me. But it is very dim, so much so that you may not be able to read
it.
Thomas Moses