General Lee Lane

Dear Carter, I regret to inform you that I have surrendered myself and the army of Northern Virginia to Union general Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House.   First we lost Richmond and burned it to the ground upon our retreat.   Then I lost six thousand men to Grant at Saylor's  Creek ,  and got trapped at the Appomattox Court House with no supplies tired troops and low morale, with no hope of resupply.    I had no choice but to surrender, Grant gave us rations, let us keep our personal property, and paroled everyone under an oath to never take up arms against the union .  I for one hope the reconstruction efforts go well and I for one shall help it on its way. Your Brother, Robert

Dear Carter,    I have received word of Sherman's March to the South.   I was devastated, Atlanta was one of our only manufacturing cities .  And Sherman's march devastated our defenses in Charleston and ripped through our food production and crushed the spirits of the south.   But it has angered the southern men and more want to join the fight.   As always take care of Mary and good luck on your business since the manufacturing plants are down. Your brother, Robert