The Civil War Letters of Henry A. Allen

Final Thoughts on the Letters of Henry A. Allen

Allen returned home and resumed his work as a brick mason, contractor, and builder and lived out the remainder of his life in Portsmouth. He died on July 7, 1912 and is buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Portsmouth, Virginia.

May 6, May 16, May 23, May 26 1865

I hope this is my last letter to you while a prisoner as the news is that the order for our release is at this post how true it is I am not able to say...

April 25, April 28, May 4 1865

...we now have no possible hope for the success of our cause.

April 13, 1865

We have indeed met with sad reverses within the last three weeks but I am not as yet hopeless and still trust something good may turn up...

April 10, 1865

Since we have been here we have heard nothing but bad news this morning it is reported that Genl Lee has surrendered with his whole army bad news for our cause if true...