25th United States Colored Troops

Item LTR-6819

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.


Headquarters, 1st Brigade, 1st Division, U.S. Colored Troops
Montgomery, Alabama

May 5th 1865

Dear Brother James,

As I am at leisure this morning, I will write you a few lines to inform where and how I am. As to the latter, I am in my usual good health and as sun burnt and seedy looking, as any of the Johnny Rebs. And about where I am you can see by the date of this, that I am in the birth place of the Rebellion. We have established Brigade Headquarters in the edge of the City in one of the Chivalry’s houses and have the Brigade camps around the building in the most convenient manner. This place is situated on the south side of the Alabama River about 410 miles above Mobile and contained before the war was a population of 14 thousand. At the present time it does not contain anything like that number.

The people all through this country express an anxious desire for peace and they almost unanimously hope that the present armistice will bring about the desired result. They have lost all hope since Lee surrendered his army. That army was the only thing which kept the Confederacy in existence for the last eighteen months.

Forest’s Army has been completely demoralized by General Wilson’s Cavalry raid through this country. Dick Taylor and his command are utterly disheartened since the capture of Mobile and the surrounding country. How completely they are used up. You can judge from the fact that we came up through the heart of their country a distance of 410 miles without meeting with as much annoyance as boats are; won’t meet with on the Mississippi.

When these southern people are subdued they will act like whipped cuss and fawn and lick the hand of those who chastise them.

One thing which made them heartsick of their Confederacy was the burning of immense quantities of cotton in the store houses of this city. The citizens requested General Adams not burn their cotton. But he told them to go to the devil and leave him to attend to his own offensive. And the main portion of his offensive served to be cotton burning and dealing out whiskey to his command.

When this reaches you, I hope peace will be made on the Lincoln basis that being the only basis worth making peace on.

I am utterly without news of the condition of things in the north. The only thing we have heard being of the Armistice between General Sherman and Johnson. This news we received officially by a bearer of dispatches from General Wilson. We observe the Armistice to some extent, but only as much as we find convenient.



Write to me often and don’t wait to receive answer from me. For the Lord only knows when the mail will go down to Mobile.

Give my love to mother and all the balance of the family. Hoping to hear from you soon. I close by subscribing myself.

Your Affectionate Brother,

George Mahaffey

Direct via Mobile

P.S. Enclosed I send you a copy of the order announcing the result of the operations around Mobile.

G. M.