p.

[upside down:]

Please write at your ealiest convenience and believe me

Your Friend Henry.

[right side up:]

The wholesale slaughter of man by his brother man is
[lamentable?], nothing can be more so, but out of this
Fratricidal war I have faith to believe great good will ensue. I do not think
faith is necessary to lead me to form such a conclu-
sion for we have the evidance of sight already.
There is great good in store for the noble sons of
Africa, our national Capitol is purged at last
which is one of the results of the war. Thousands have
gained their freedom by coming inside our lines
the President has given his sanction and high ex-
ecutive authority to a gradual Emancipation
scheme, and better still, Genl. Hunter under the
authority of Martial Law, has with a dash of
the pen abolished slavery forever in the states
of North & South Carolina & Georgia. It now remains
to be seen whether he will be sustained or whether
he will suffer the fate of Fremont. The times have
changed since Fremont was removed and we
have great reason to believe Hunter will be sus-
tained. If so, a great point is gained and slavery
will be abolished by martial law. Good can
come of evil as good could come out of Nazareth.
Slavery is doomed, but at a great cost of blood
and treasure, which we should never regret as
it purchases freedom for the slave and freedom
for our country. "It is sweet and becoming to die
for one's country", but more so still to die for our
fellow-men and the best interests of humanity.

[in left margin:]

I must close this. Please remember me to all who may inquire.