MMS 1088 - L. A. Gormley Correspondence

Convalescent Camp
Camp Sheridan, near Wilmington, North Carolina
Saturday morning, April 22, 1865

Dear Mother,

I am still here and doing well and expect to stay here some time, as it is almost impossible to get transportation. There are about six hundred men here of all regiments awaiting transportation totheir respective commands. I wrote to Charlie soon after my arrival here and have since sent a box home containing three overcoats, one blanket, one captured bed quilt, two shirts, one pair of drawers, two pairs of gloves and a few other little notions. I expect some of the fair sex will fall in love with that quilt, but tell them that they cannot have that without the owner. I do not know whether the box will get through or not, but I thought I would send it any how as they did not cost me much and I have no use for them here. The express agent said the cost would be four dollars. If they get through safe inform me soon and perhaps I may send another box. Such a box costs about five dollars here which I think is reasonable enough the way clothing sells now, it it not.

Well to change the subject, what do the people of the North think now about the war, do they think it is any nearer closed than it was three years ago. I suppose there are some of them that would not own it if they could help themselves. You cannot imagine the excitement that prevailed here when the news came that Richmond was evacuated and Lee's army surrendered. Guns were fired (which was contrary to orders), hats thrown in the air and such cheering was never heard. Their voices could have been heard for miles, the officers had no control over the boys, the guards left their posts and joined in the jubilee. It continued all night, there was but a few eyes closed that night. If the feeling of the soldiers be so intese on the evacuation of Richmond, what will it be when peace is declared. That will be the happiest day the American soldier ever experienced. And the boys are waiting with anxious hearts for that day to come and I think it will come too before many months. I do not htink it possible for them to hold out much longer. No doubt guerilla warfare will be kept up for some time and the cavalry will be apt to be kept to take care of them, and they know how to do it too.

I think we will be paid off the first of next month, then I will hav about $130 due me which will be a considerable of help. Tell Garek that I would like to have him get that box of mine from Phill for it is a good box and I have some things locked up in the till of it that I want.

There is a good many onion and radishes brought in camp for sale and they are in good demand with those that have money. There is some milk brought in also which sells for ten cents a gill. Peas will soon be large enough for use.

I have the earache today so bad that I can scarcely write, I do not know the cause of it without. I ate too much breakfast, we had pancakes and gravy, you had better believe they were good. We are going to have beans for dinner and I do not know what we will have for supper, but if the cook thinks proper we will have beef steak and eggs.

I suppose if Father buys Charlie's farm he intends to let me have the house where he now is to live in. That would suit me very well and I think it would be about so good a move as could be made, don't you?

I will close for the present.

Give my best wishes to all inquiring friends. Write soon to your son.

L. A. Gormley
Company F, 9th Regiment, O.V.C.
Convalescent Camp
Camp Sherman, near Wilmington, North Carolina