Letter from Conrad Cramer to his mother and father

Evening Dispatch, 5 o'clock p.m.
May 18th/65

I just returned from dress parad and I will now endeaver to finish my letter. Just at this present time it is getting very dark and a heavy storm acoming up and frem the looks we will have quite a lot of rain which is very much needed just at this time as the ground is very dry. There has not anything of importance transpired during the day of any consequence. Various rumors are in circulation about us going home some day that the 1st A.C. Gen'rl Hancock is comeing to relieve us but whether it is true or not I can not tell. There was an order read that all Volunteer officers that are back from their commands to be honorably discharged from the U.S. Sirvice and the officers are to make out descriptive rolls for all their men that are back in the hosp'tls so they can be discharged & there is quite a talk about going to Mexico I see in the New York Herald we have lots of men here if they were out of the Sirvice they would go on short notice. The French have no bisiness on this side of the ocean and they must be drove out again. I see that it is altogether a private affair, the Government has nothing to do with it. Mexico will pay the men for their trouble.

The peach crop in this section of the country is a going to be very plentiful. The trees are now bending with their loads of fruit. The apples are not so plenty as they have not much trees planted. Well I must stop writing as it is getting dark and raining fast.

You must not stop writing because the papers say that the war is over and because some of the boys write home that they expect to return home soon as they just get it from rumers that are daily circulated through the camp. I will let you know in time when to stop writing. We may stay two months yet there is no telling.

Salisbury is a small town of about three thousand inhabitants and is the place where the rebels starved and froze to death so many of our men that they had prisoners here. At one place they dug out after digging under the ground for about six rods and at one place they dug under the ground a bout 10 feet deep in order to dig under a ditch about four or five feet deep. I think some forty or fifty succeeded in getting out.

But I must stop writing for this time. My love to all my brothers and sisters. I am your affectionate son,

Conrad Cramer

Write soon and oblige
Direct as before

Give my love to all enquiring friends, etc.
C. Cramer

To his father and mother

Write soon if you please and direct as before, etc.

Conrad Cramer

[in pencil in corner and edges]

May 19th/65

This morning the mail will go out. We did have some rain last night and it is raining now. Things look fresh once more. The boys are all well that are here with us. This place is a healthy one I think at any rate.

If you have a good chance you may buy me a sucking colt if you can keep it.

I will send a little Confed as we call it to the girls. I want them to take care of it.