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Stokes Apr 30th /.65
Friend Charles,
I am guilty of a sin of which there is hardly any forgiveness "ingratitude" in not answering your welcome letter which I received a long long time ago. I have commenced to write you several times, but did not finish I thought I would embrace the present opportunity in writing you and trust you will pardon the long delay.
I attended church this forenoon but there was not but a few out. Our new Pastor was not present.
The air is cold to day after a heavy shower of rain with thunder yesterday. Spring with us has the appearance of being quite forward, the trees are leaving out very fast,
Grass is growing finely, and all Nature looks lovely. I suppose everything is much more forward where you are then it is here. During the winter past we had a great burden of snow, but went off very rapidly this spring. As you were home last winter you knew something about the depth of it. I did not see you while you were home I saw your Photograph to M. Smith's the other evening, and thought it was a very good one, indeed. I hope you will remember me and send one as soon as convenient, and I will send you mine. I often think of you "perhaps" while you are in camp, or on the battlefield, or also on a long and weary march. It seems you been very fortunate in being spared, while many of your comrades have fallen.
I never fancied a military life, yet, sometimes I had almost a
desire to witness a battle.
I take the N. Y. World and was reading on Friday evening of the recent victories which contained a full report, and it seemed to be a time of rejoicing and thought Grant to be the Hero of the hour That was the night of the assassination of President Lincoln and also Sec Seward I heard of it on Saturday noon but could not believe it till I saw a Daily at night which was dressed in mourning and found it to be too true. Ocurring at this moment when there was a prospect of peace, it can be considered in no other light than that of a great calamity, thus causing profound sorrow to take the place of rejoicing. His death must be regarded so by all parties. I was at Rome on the day of the President's funeral. Mr. Knox preached an appropriate sermon on his death
The church was draped in mourning and nearly all the houses in the village. It all presented a sad and gloomy appearance. I have not much news to write, yet there has been a great many changes since you left home and went into the army. A number have married and have settled here and there and others have been taken away by the hand of death. We have a new Landlord and Merchant, they moved here this spring. I bought me a fine young horse two year's ago she is coming six this spring and also a nice harness the same spring. Last summer I bought a nice carriage. So I have a pretty fair rig, and an expensive one. Mary commences Scool here to morrow. She sends her respects to you my sheet is nearly full. It is about chore time and I must think of closing. I hope you will answer this as soon as you recive it. Please excuse mistakes and poor writing. [ev?] I have been ploughing the past week and sowing grain. My hand dont feel as though it were in a writing mood.
From Your Friend James
Write soon a long letter. I shall look for one.[written vertically] I will endeavor to be punctual in answering your letters which can not be too often as fast as they come