Letter from Soldier in the 195th Ohio Volunteer Infantry
Army of the Shenandoah, two miles from Winchester, Va., April 18th, 1865
Mr. Editor:—Sir:
Through the columns of your paper, in behalf of Co. G, 195th O.V.I., I ask permission to address our friends. Company G, commanded by Capt. B. R. Rutherford, was principally recruited in Gallia county, therefore the Journal has ever been a weekly visitor to most of the members, until of late. Our duty being quite a distance from home, and the men thinking their friends do not pay that attention to writing they should. We must therefore have the Journal.
We left Camp Chase March 22d, regretting to leave ten of our Co., in the hospital, and one who died with phneumonia [sic], viz: Jackson Reese. Enroute for [blank] arriving at Charlestown, Va., March 26th. Many thought the journey a long and tedious one, not being used to such accommodations, still the Reg't. came through with a loss of only one man, who was run over by the cars at Benwood, Va. Since our arrival at the aristocratic town of Charlestown, we have struck tents some four or five times, marching through a country, we think "no wonder the rebs contended for, long and well" for surely wealth and comfort once reigned here in its highest perfection. But now the plantations are but one commons, and the residences only contain a few females, whose continual attire is mourning, the cause perchance is the fall of Richmond.
The news of this, and the surrender of Lee, was met with many long and hearty cheers by the boys. But the sad intelligence, the assassination of our Chief, was more than an equal. It is a common affliction. The army has lost a father, and a friend, the whole nation mourns the loss of its Chief Magistrate, even the murders [sic] and blood thirsty recreants, who secretly approve their dastardly assassination will find that so far as excessive kindness and generosity are concerned they will not look upon his like again, and this we hope.
Caused by this unexpected shock and sorrow, a march of nine days was suspended in our Division. We are now neatly encamped near Steavenston's [sic] Station, Va., and have plenty of drilling to do. The boys are all well, and contented, so far as soldiering is concerned, but are very anxious to hear from home. The men say they know something is wrong, and the boys wonder. To those that have friends in this Co., I would say, stay many hard words, and cheer the way of those in whom you have an interest, by writing. Address the Co., and Reg't., as below.
Respectfully,
A. J. Beardsley, Orderly Serg't. Co. G 195th Reg't. O. V. I. Winchester Va.
The Gallipolis Journal
May 4, 1865
Trascribed by Eva Swain Hughes