The Black Thorns

Dear Family, Once again I've been bathed in the blood of this war. General Grant lead us to victory by dragging us through hell, 23,000 bodies littered the field. My feet sank into the bodies of my enemies and my brothers in arms, and I tripped over heads and slid through blood to get back. I guess I'm a father by now, has it really been that long, God how I wish I could be back home. I would do anything to see your faces again. Maybe if I got hurt bad enough I could go home, but then again if I do that there's no guarantee I'll survive, I guess the only option is to keep pushing onward.

Dear Family, The first year has past now, and thank God I'm no casualty to this rotten war (dang First Sergeant Cobb must be rubbing off on me). Many people have died or sent home due to injury and everyone acts like I should care, if it's not me left to the hogs in the forests and fields I'm fine. I look forward to the day I can come home and see your faces.

Diary entry, (August 31, 1864) McClellan has been nominated to run for the Democrats. He's promising to end the war and leave the Reb's alone, and hear I was thinking he was just an overly cautious general. Diary entry, (November 8, 1864) Lincoln won the election 212 electoral votes to McClellan's 21. If that's not a landslide victory I don't know what is, but it looks like I've gotta keep fighting this war.

Dear Mildred, The war is almost over. We are closing in. Rarely have the Confederates ever been on the offensive. I am joyful and hopeful, Mildred, for I know that Uncle and the others are close. Currently, I am deep down in South Carolina , yes, that is how far we have pushed them back. This conflict will not prolong. After a decisive thrashing of the rebels at Saylor's Creek, we have taken 6000 and 8 generals. Lee managed to escape with a small amount of men, maybe 30000. Our armies in total are 125 thousand strong. My division is pushing strongly into Lee's right flank, which is weakening. I hear white folk talking about taking it easy now. The war is almost over, but I will still fight my hardest until I fall by the last bullet of war. Please understand that I will do anything for uncle and the others. Meanwhile, I would like to thank Lincoln, what a great man he is! Why the rebels not given up yet, I do not know. Emancipation is at our fingertips. We all live t

Dear, Kathryn  My English has been gettin better, and so has da civil war  I’ve been feelin better, with more food. But as da war is dissolving into its ends, it feels like the tearible memorys of flashbacks take over my sleep and dreams, turning it into nightmares. But I am glad to say, the Union has prettty much won. April 2, 1865, my brothers and I taken over Richmond and made the city fallen. Later on, as what I’ve heard our final battle was at Saylor’s Creek. Da union outnumbered General Lee.  General Grant and Lee should meet up in a few days, by the time you recivee this letter, The meetin might have possibly passed.  The war is dying, but I’m glad it is. For I got no words, I’m flooded with shock but let our chained brother be free. Your husband, (Private) Wilson. 

This war began in 1861, 4 years past Now in 1865, more has come than I ever could have asked Through Bull run, antietam, gettysburg, Sherman's march, and so much more The finish has finally come for this dreadful long war I led a regiment, fought hard, and finished on a high I went beyond, I pushed myself and I dared to defy I am not perfect and yes I am somewhat flawed This victory belongs not to me, but to my brothers and to God And after all this time The bells of freedom have begun to ring and chime For it was my brothers and my people that I set out to defend And with my work, this war  will now end I am ever grateful to my regiment and my crew Now i will return to Amy and Father Alred too

To Break the South We continue on We leave behind a trail Of splintered homes The women & children hide behind the burning fires Men glare and stare at the horizon Looking for grey But they are alone, defenseless Salvation is distant We plunder through, leaving behind our wake of destruction A rift through Georgia But why do we care for they are not broken? They continue on so we shut them down Their morale will prevail  Tenacious, they are  Their boldness infuriates me Why won't they break? I feel no shame They broke my brothers Vengeance is mine I let it all out They soon want no more They will drop their last glimmer of hope

My dear Family 1864 and our dear president Lincoln has been reelected to be president again. He was running against his former General "Little Mac" I also was surprise to hear this, I mean he was a good General but he also did some mistakes that cost the Union. Lincoln won by a a slide , he had 212 popular votes and 2.3million while "Little Mac" had 21 votes from only three states Delawere, New Jersey, Kentucky and only 1.8million popular votes. Lincoln IS OUR 16TH PRESIDENT.                                       From your deer Melvin Thomas

Dear Diary, the war slumbers on into a forth year and i grow ill in my thoughts. the war has turned favor for the north with the fall of atlanta. i dare to hope all slaves will be given the freedom they have a right to have. but i must admit that it is hard to watch what is happening here at Sherman's march . We are s plitting the confederacy in half in georgia and general Sherman's strategy pushes us closer to victory but at what cost? we are told to take everything and anything we can . the whites certainly do this but i don't feel that it is right. the white soldiers believe that they are bringing freedom to slaves , but the goal of this cause is to bring everyone together and i don't feel that this action will do that. why, taking everything from them is no better then what they did to us. I believe this will only aggravate the south's desire to leave the Union. sherman wants georgia to howl and screem, and that just isn't right. i wish Father Alfre

Sherman's Georgia Atlanta has fallen this past night the locusts take flight A purge and a curse a plague surging east to Savannah at least Locusts that plunder, slaughter and grow with freedom, this great cloud of bodies This land soon turns flat as the port they do reach this trail of blood this road of freedom What plague has been unleashed? we people are locusts a lust for destruction we purge the land we turn it to sand And still we hunger.

Dear Kathryn my love,                                                                                                                  1864 I’ve just revived your letter a week awhile! Oh how my hert rejoices when I learned dat I have now a daughter! How is she? Oh I can not wait to meet my child. I promiss, I will come back, my love. How are you feelin? Headin well from labor? Bee sure to drink lots of water, Kathryn. I’m doin well, healthy enuff, gettin better on English and spellin. But I as well have a rejoicin news about the war. Two weeks ago, that’s was when da Fall if Atlanta and Sherman’s march to the Sea took place! Slaves were free, a March took place, the North gained great victory. Some said it be too harsh or way two much but I think it’s what da south gets for startin all dis mess. Now our brothers and sisters can bee free, and beesides. The south were da ones who first did da true harsh things to us, love. I no we both are a bit of worried of what will happen to