The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-16
War Letters of Thomas
 Caffey; The End Is Near
Hope Faint As He Writes Hs Last Letter in January 1se5
 Hood Is Beaten-Sher Has Marched to the Sea. <

to our company who went home on furlough some three weeks ago.
 The Tanks" are quiet In our front but how long they will remain I will not venture to predict. Some think we will soon falf back on Richmond. We will have to do so If Meade transfers his army to the peninsula which it Is thought he is now doing. I had let- ter from William few days ago. The box of goodies he mentioned to you of sending me has not made its ap- pearance yet. It may come along be- fore the spring campaign opens.
 The papers will give you all the news in regard to the late /raid of Fitzpatrick. Do you get The Whig reg ularly am very well. Wrote you a few days ago. I want no clothing but pair of drawers.
 Your Bro. Thomas.
 ANOTHER BIG BATTLE
 IS EXPECTED SOON.
 xxvII.
 Camp 3rd Alabama Regiment.
 Near Orange c. H.. April 2i. 1884.
 Dear Mary:
 I have been unwell for some days and inS consequence have to keep to my bed. I am better now though not very strong but hope few days rest will place me In condition for the campaign that will open in few days. have had jaundice but am now getting all right with the excep- tion of my complexion which is about the hue of yaller nigger.
 Orders came few days ago to send all our surplus plunder to the rear So as to have as little incumbrance as possible on the march. My blankets and some articles of clothing I boxed up and forwarded to Major vandeveer at the Alabama Depot, Richmond. suppose he will take care of them till I need them next winter provided am as fortunate as to get off with whole bones the ensuing campaign. Cushing of Montgomery sent me a very good wool hat and as the one Ma sent me was too warm for sum- mer wear sent It back with my other things thinking it would do in camp next winter. The regiment went down to the river this morning to spend a week on the outpost. It is a singular fact that the 3rd Alabama has not a single time the past winter had fair weather while on post.
 It commenced raining a few minutes 1 after the brigade left camp and from ' present indications I think 1t very I probable 1t will continue at least g week. Like prudent fellow always | remained in camp. I was truly glad | of an excuse to do so for the reasor that next to lighting I detest picket | duty more than anything else connect l ed with the life of q soldier. A grea' | many of the boys are firm in the opin fion that the Tanks will cross the rivei l while they are there this time. | would entertain the same opinion Il l the weather was more favorable. Hons4 haltavo that Grant will riSl | a defeat with small river in his real l which is, liable to overflow its bank | every ffe4le rain that falls. He will | perfect every possible arrangemen l and when he does come 1t will be witl | such numbers that he will expect u I carry everything before him by mere | force of numbers. Some of our scouts I report that he has 150.000 men whil' others equally as well informed asser' l that eo,ooo all told is the sum total o l the force under his command. Genera Lee probably has sources of informa | ton unattainable by the rank and fll 1 of his army and it is very evident tha I he expects a desperate effort to b I made by the Yankees to drive him ou I of Virginia or he certainly would no I have ordered endorsements to tn I extent he has.
 HIS army Is at least 25,O00 mel l stronger than 1t was ten days ago ant l I suppose the aggregate now under hi | command is very near 70,0O0. Hi | right hand man, Longstreet, Is ol | hand with two of hise veteran divls | ions, and I am told that General LOT | ing of PoIk's Corps Is in Richmond | with 12,000 more. Thus you see VI are preparing for a row on an i'm l mense scale and one in which sornt | one is going to badly hurt Tn tht i past ten days more than one hundred l deserters have come over to us, and have been forwarded to, General Win ! der. suppose these gentry are so ex' l tremelY anxious to get to Richmond