Jonesboro, Tues., April 17.—We have just heard the joyful tidings that William is elected Judge. The first we knew of it was a shout from the regiment that made the welkin ring. We thought they had got a mail and that they had news of some great victory; so William and I started out to see what the noise was about. As soon as they saw us they shouted, “Hurrah for Judge Lyon”. The mail had come and brought papers announcing the fact of his election. We could hardly believe it, it was so unexpected. We had a curiosity to see how many hundred votes he would be beaten by, but had no thought of election. It is two weeks today since the election, and we have only just heard of it. I never saw William so nonplussed. I am so happy I can hardly contain myself, for now William can leave the service honorably and come home. They think now that we will not go farther East, since Lee’s surrender.
The 4th Army Corps, we now hear, was sent here to go through to Richmond and reinforce the troops already there. The deserters are daily coming in. This morning sixty of Vaughn’s command came here and gave themselves up. The war is over, but poor President Lincoln could not live to see the end. His assassination is awful!
