Truck

Martha Deed

Mustering Out 5 June 1865

I wrote a letter some time ago. . . I have had no response to it. . . I lost a son in the Army & he was buried at Portsmouth Grove, R.I. The government as I notice has been moving some of the bodies. . . If you will be kind enough to inform me whether they have moved all or intend to move all & break up the cemetery there, I will be truly obliged to you. My sons name was Luther M. Loper.

– Isaac Loper, June 23/68

It is Spring now – finally

and I am writing my last letter to you –

from the South

A private letter – like

all the others I have written –

to you – and I have burned

Your letters – to keep

them private, too –

except in memory

I long to be free again –

Soon I will – I think –

My hand shakes

as I pen this to you –

I may be sick –

But I don’t tell you this

The War –

All that stood between you

and me – is over now

“I shall be joyful

beyond measure

when I can feel

and know

that no human being

has the right

to say to me

'You must do this'

'You must do that'

Time drags heavily to me now

but I think I shall survive

so don’t be alarmed.”

Based on a letter from Luther Milton Loper to his cousin, Juliett Loper from Raleigh, North Carolina,

5 June 1865.