Whistler Station, Alabama April 16th 1865
Dear Friends-
To day the 96 are in camp near a little Town by the name of Whistler five miles from Mobile Alabama.. I beleave we were near Blakely 9 miles from Fort Spanish when I last wrote. Since that time there has been quite a change in afars about Mobile.. on the 11th two Divisions of the 13th Corps marched from Blakely to the Landing near Fort Spanish and about midnight got aboard Transports to cross the Bay and with the expectation of having some big fighting to do.. about day brake we run acrost and landed within eight miles of the city and met with no opposition in landing we then started towards mobile and about 12 oclock marched in to the City. the rear guard of the enemy leaving just as we came in the principal part of the Rebs having left the night before.. we went in to camp near the city and remained untill the 13th about noon when our Division went out to Whistler five miles from Mobile a very important station on the Mobile & Ohio Railroad. here we found a Squad of Rebel cavelry trying to destroy the Foundry & Machine Shops which were carried on to a considerable extent before the evacuation of Mobile.. they broke up the Machenery considerabley but we cam in to soon for them so they could not entirely destroy it Mobile is quite a large city but it looks very rough & dirty.. there are a good many who formerly have been in the Rebel army left in Mobile and they declare they are tired of war and willing to submit to the union. they thing the confederacy plade out.. the little town (Whistler) where we are now camped is a very nice little place. most all of the hands that worked in the foundry and quite a number of those employed on the Rail Road are left here.. the Rebs tryed to make them go of with them but they run into the swamps and hid untill we cam in here then they came out.. they all clame to be loyal to the government and appear to be sincere this forenoon the Soldiers & Cittizens met in one of the churches in Town and held a Prair & speeking meeting one old lady said she had been praying for us to come & the downfall of the confederacy for a long time and now she beleaved her prairs had been answered the evacuation of Richmond is confirmed.. and it is rumored that Jeb Davis has issued a proclemation that all confederate soldiers shall lay down their arms. but how this is I dont know it only a rumor. but I thinks the end is not far distant.. the boys from Berlin are well & in good spirits.. we have had the best of luck on this expedition.. there has not been a man killed from the 96th Batl & only four slightly wounded I can’t write worth a snap today there is too much good news for me to write. I have not received a letter from you since I left Blakely. I will close for this time.. write soon from
Lu Carhart