April 2, 1864---"The sorry South is the place to live."

APRIL 2, 1864:           

Benjamin Searle of the 123^rd New York writes home to his family from Elk River Bridge, Tennessee:

Dear Brother and Sister, 

The Peach trees are all in bloom here and everything is gay. I tell you the sorry South is the place after all to live in.

From your ever effectionate [sic] Brother

B F Searle.