(to Mary from Justus)
Hd. Qrs. Cav Depot near
City Point, Va. thursday
May 25th, 1865
Remembered Friend,As I presume that you have written to me long e'ere this and looking for an answer, I will venture to write you. I have not recieved any mail since the first of this month. I have not had any directed to this camp, so it has all gone to the Reg't where I thought I should be before this.
I am well, and am enjoying myself first rate, except it is rather dull laying about camp with nuthing to do to pass off the time. though for a few days past I have whiled away some of the time reading the trial of the assassins.
well Mary, I little thought when I broke camp last spring that the rebellion would be so near closed by this time. there is nuthing of it left but Kirby Smiths army, west of the mississippi. and it is reported & confirmed through reble sources that he has been killed by one of his subordinates and that Magruder has surrendered the army. I do not know it to be so but one thing that makes me think it is so is that the 25 corps (colored) which lays below here, had orders to go to texas the other day. a part of them had got on transports at the Point, but they wer sent back. it is thought that Sheridans Cav wer going also, but I dont know whether that would include our briggade or not. The best thing though if it takes us is that there was an order issued for to discharge all soldiers whose time of service expires prior to the first of Oct next immediatley. now our Co's time of inlistment expires before that time, and our time at muster into the U. S. service expires on the 29 of October, so we are not sertin of getting out on that order1. but our discriptive list has been sent for & our names sent in and we are expecting them every day.
I suppose our Regt partook in the grand review at Washington on tuesday.
Mary, I think I've got the start of you getting strawberies & cheries this season for I went out about a week ago and got all I could eat, & I shouldent be surprised if I got home to get some more.
I suppose you are a having jolly times this summer. I would like to be there and partake in some of them with you. you need not answer this untill you hear from me again. for we expect to move to washington every day. and then I will write you again.
I remain as ever your Obt. Servant
J. G. Matteson
1. Justus was discharged on July 19, 1865.
y
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