April 8, 1865
Dear Rose,

This is probably the last letter I’ll be writing to you. I can’t assure you anything though. You may be wondering why I’m saying this but you should be relived that I have made it this far. I’ve made it to what seem like the end of the war. It isn’t all good new though. Let me explain, 2 days ago we fought a very important battle. I’ll spare you the gruesome details for your sake. But basically we were retreating and trying to stay together under the leadership of the great  Robert E. Lee. And we encountered Union troops at Saylor’s Creek.  It lasted one day and despite all of our efforts I hate to say it but we were greatly defeated. In the wake of the battle, some 8,000 Confederates surrendered. I wasn’t one of them. But I’m not enough to keep our army going, especially when roughly 1/3 of our army surrrendered. I overheard Corporal William Matthews saying that this the largest number to wave the white flag in any North American war. He’s the guy who delivers all sorts of news around. Who knows what’s going to become of us. At this point the Confederacy is dissolving and we are greatly outnumbered. So the good news is honey, that I’m alive. I’ve been able to survive through all of this. Everyday I thank God for waking up and for you. The bad news is that our cause might be the one to die soon. I know it hurts but God has a plan in store. And anything that happen next is just a pat of it. Tell my little boy, although I don’t think he’s so little anymore, I can’t wait to see how he’s grown up! But tell him that I love him and that I’ll be back. When is uncertain but I’ll be back.


With love,
James