25th Maine Infantry

Item LTR-5602

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.

My dear Nell,

Yours of the 20th came to hand tonight. But when that box comes to hand, I think it will cause your humble self to “wink his starboard eye and kick out his hurt leg” and to “grin horrible a ghastly smile” (haha). I don’t think I will make my supper of bread and tea that night anyhow. “Mrs. Deaeri” contemplates sending this worthy individual a cheese “do you mind that now.” My health is “A1”, i.e. good, first rate, excellent, tiptop, first quality. In fact, I never was better in my life and I have not been so fat. For I graze as I am now to tell you the plain truth. My badly Kerporasitie is good, i.e. OK. Which said abbreviation means all correct. I am very happy to apart to the good people that General F. Fessenden has resumed command of the gallant 25th Maine Regiment and Lieutenant J. C. Kendall has returned to his place in Company G. Although that leaves my chance of promotion. It is the best thing that could be done for the regiment and Company G. But the commissioned officers have got to pass an “examining board” at Washington and it is expected that some of them will be sent home. And if they send home more than one, Captain Kendall will probably be promoted to the captaincy of some other company. I wish that Captain Randall might be sent home to see how he likes that old mule in Greenleaf’s arithmetic” call reduction. It is interesting in case of a vacancy to make a 2nd sergeant of ME but it may not be the 2nd. But it will be a sergeant anyhow. If I behave myself. For Lt. Buchman says that I gain everyday with the Captain and all the decent men make a point of Charley. He is always welcome into any of their cribs and if there was a vacancy of 2nd lieutenant to be filled by ballot.

C. S. S.
Would get 45 votes without a doubt. This information is strictly confidential and is written to let you know that my position in the ranks is as pleasant as it can be. And there I shall not stay there long after there is a vacancy.

Vacancies of commissioned officers are in the control of the captain as much as the noncommissioned. Captain R. considers me one of his working men and when a gang of good men is wanted, he says Charles “will you go”. Newell is a great favorite of the captain. All the men and officers are down on the orderly and have just what they are a mind to him. He said he would thrash me and told him I “didn’t see it.” He is an awful coward besides the men say if he touches Charles they will kill him and he sees that.