RK-916

Abstract of Letter this day mailed by me to you Bob. to San Francisco

In which said letters it appears That Yours of 30th Mch Off Greytown was recd - was satisfactory -

That the Inocents will be provided for up to June 15th without calling on Walker for loan

That the Boys have changed their Boarding place to some 4 Blks distant Same price paid -

That there has been a vacation in school for 2 weeks ends this week -

That I can give no certif of warranty as to how Inocents will do. but will make it unpleasant for them if they don't peg in" some -

That I will In the Coat you spoke about when Poddy comes in to get it -

That Stimson is in Washington has been for 2 weeks. still will for 2 weeks more -

That we were at The Grove Sunday last. That we found things there quite regular. that their internal inflamation was subsiding.

That there have been as yet no more babies born there. and no prospects of any

That my wife and Boy are pretty well and mighty nice The young speaks your name -

That Oil is as it was - That President Lincoln was shot by J Wilks Both [illegible] 14th Apl in Theater - That Booth has been arrested shot or rather shot & arrested (both dead)

That Seward was stabbed also his Son - are recovering

That we took Richmond some time ago. That Lee surrendered his Army soon after.

That Sherman has got into bad repute by listening to too lenient terms of surrender to Lee made by Johnson -

That it is believd the Rebellion is about non set[?]

That Dfty & recruiting have been stoped

That Brighter days to the Country are coming - that some dark ones may be before them -

That one of Lincoln's funerals will be in Chicago Monday

2

That Andy Johnson (now President) is getting the Confidence of the people -

That Gold is about 748 -

That I am Yours Truly

Jim

Sat morning Apl 29th

Dear Bob.

I did not send your letters yesterday will to day -

Since writing yesterday the news of Johnsons surrender to Sherman has reached us - he surrendered on same terms Lee did to Grant - That rids us of all the Confed. troops east of Mississippi except little bands of bushwhackes of few in a place Kirby Smith has 30 or 40,000 men in Texas. and that is all there is of the Rebellion

The thing is done up. and the rapidity with which the thing

has gone to peaches surprises me. And I dont think any body can shew me logical reasonings why we could not have ended it before. The Confederacy never had the bottom I have for a long time supposed it had and when in former times I gave it as my opinion that "we should never succeed" I based said opinion upon such supposed strength of the Confederacy Having been better informed now in regard to the strength of said Confederacy - I take this early opportunity to state to you that it is my opinion that the Confederacy will soon come to an end

Yours Jim

[return address - corner folded] ECH & REDFIELD, TORNEYS AT LAW. CHICAGO, ILL.

eturn to Box 740, if not called for ten days.

[postmark] CHICAGO MAY 1 ILL.

[written] Robert Kennicott Collins Overland Telegraph Co. Makenzie River Dist. Care of Hon Hudson's Bay Co. Pembina Minnesota