3rd & 4th Maryland Potomac Home Brigade

Item LTR-575

Description

3 pages, original Civil War soldier's letter written in period ink and war dated.


General Court Martial
No. 24 Holiday Street
Baltimore

May 30th 1864

Lieutenant,

The ten dollars that I am in debt to you, for I have not forgotten. I intend to come to Mr. Airy in a few days if I can get off and settle some little matters then. I am now detailed here on General Court Martial and would not be surprised if I am detained on this duty all the summer. As we have a number of spicy cases to dispose of. I wish you were here as a member and have a gay time.

Captain Pratt is here also a bumming around, a swinging calico up and down Baltimore Street. The prisoner we are tying now has William Meade Addison, a noted lawyer engaged as his counsel. I have a spicy time of it, and very warm arguments. Benet is nowhere. As the counsel for each prisoner ahs a dray load of law books brought down every morning. If you should get to Baltimore call and see us at No. 24 Holiday Street, third story. We are short two members now and I would like if you could get here as a member of this court. I know you would be pleased. I have bought a house since I came to town and have not money enough by $380.00 to pay for it. I wish to know if I can borrow this amount from you for 6 months. If so, I will give you my note with interest for the loan. I may not want it so long as this. If not, of course, I will pay you before. I will pay you the same interest you get at the bank. So you will not be losing anything by the operation. It will be a great accommodation if you grant this request and I will try and return the favor, sometime if you should be in need of assistance. Please answer this immediately and let me know if I can depend on you for this favor.

I am most respectfully your obedient servant,

J. W. Dodson
Captain
Company K
3rd Regiment Maryland Potomac Home Brigade
Maryland Volunteers

To: Lieutenant S. T. Eck
Company G, 3rd Regiment Maryland Potomac Home Brigade
Mount Airy
B&C RR

P.S. Direct your letter to No. 889 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore