This letter was written to my GG Grandfather Sylvender Peter Freeman by his close friend Henry Grife
towards the very end of the Civil War. It was then later forwarded by mail to my GG Grandmother Mildred Ann years
after the Civil War. It has been kept in the family all these years and is still in our family's
posession. In transcribing the letter every attempt was made to keep the original wording in tact.
You may view the original two page letter here
Page 1 and Page 2.
I hope you enjoy reading about the life of a Civil War soldier.
Wait for the wagon
What’s taters worth
What’s the matter
Susie
What nonsense. Bessie
What if I salt apple pie for supper
Goldsboro,
North Carolina
March
30th 1865
Remembered
Friend,
After
considerable trouble I find an opportunity to answer your letter of Feb. 2nd.It found me well hoping these few awkward
lines may find you able for duty. We
came here the 21st of this month. We would have been here one day sooner if it had not been for the rebs
at Trimble Swamp where they jumped on us and jumped off quicker than they
jumped on our Division. Took over 400
prisoners besides killing about 200. Our
regiment lost 22 killed and wounded. 2
in our company. Addrian Tangnary is
wounded in the arm but is doing well. He
is sent to New Bern for treatment. Andrew Neiligh from Lawn Ridge is killed.
Newt Ray in Co. B is wounded. I expect you know him. The boys are all well and hearty.
The boys do not care for anything any more except I believe pills that the rebs carry
in their cartridge boxes. There is not much news at present, only that
Lincoln thinks the war is about over. We
get rebel papers now and then in these parts. From them I learn that the southern leaders
are down in the mouth as the
saying is. I never was bothered so bad
for something to write about in my life. I expect you will think I do not know anything
and you will not miss the
mark very far. Darn the girls, I cannot
think of two things at once or I could write and think of something else at the
same time. I heard that Caroline Wead
was married. I think that a sign of the
war closing by mighty soon. Well I might
as well close for I cannot think of anything, foolery excepted. Write soon.
Yours Truly,
Henry Grife
Direct Goldsboro, North Carolina
Via Fortiegs Monroe
