16th Maine Infantry - Wounded at Spotsylvania

Item LTR-7699

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages, written in period ink. (Note soldier art on last page. Also some holes on seams - does not detract from letter).
Mitchells Station

January 18th 1864

Dear Brother,

I sit down to write a “few lines” to let you know that we of the 16th of your acquaintance are all well as far as I know. I had a letter from home a few nights ago. The folks were all well. They have sent me and Silas another box, which I shall expect along before long. I should judge by the account of the stuff in it that it must be a “rouser”. Don’t you think we are rather “going in” on boxes! We are down here where we were when I wrote last doing picket duty, etc.. Deserters from the rebel army come in here almost every day and some days ten and fifteen have come in. I came off from picket yesterday. While I was out there, three came in. The first one that came in said he had been contemplating it ever since the war began. He had to ford the Rapidan and it was frozen over so that it bore him till he got out two or three rods. And then it gave way and let him in and he had to break the ice as we went along. He said that where he crossed was in plain sight of their pickets and they might have seen him. As well as not if they had looked. He said he was glad to get into the United States once more.

Ash got a letter last night stating that Uncle William is married! Married to a Widow Henderson. Uncle Lombard’s daughter. I never knew before that Uncle Lombard had a daughter that was a Widow Henderson. I hope he has done better than he did before. If he has got married and done well, I am glad of it and I think it must be that he has. For Ash says his woman has got only “five” children. Well, I hope that Uncle William’s children have got as good a step-mother as hers have step-father.

We are not paid off yet and I guess we shant be till March. Father and Danville and Uncle William Doble have been at Molunkus at work and have hauled down one load of hay. But I suppose they have written all about that to you.

I trained last night and a good part of the day today and the consequence is mud, mud, mud, nothing but mud. You see there is a good portion of it on this letter, besides the other dirt and blots. But I thought I would send it. If it does look bad, the writing is all plain. Tomorrow is inspection day. So, I will adjourn till that is over.

Well, inspection is over and I will try to finish this letter. It was too muddy to carry knapsacks on inspection. So, we packed them and left them in the tent and we expected the Assistant Provost Guard and the Major and Captain to be in to inspect them in the tents and to inspect our quarters. But they didn’t come.

Silas is on picket so he can’t write any to put into this letter. But I can write all there is to be written and that ain’t much now. As there is nothing else to write, I will pen down a few little incidents that happen round here.

Last night, two darkies came into our lines. When they got in right of our pickets, one was afraid and would not venture up till the other had gone ahead to see if all was right. And then he was to advance and finally the first one got angry and called out “come along darn you G-d d-mn n****r.” Charles Tibbetts was here a day or two ago. He is brakeman on the rail road that runs from Alexandria to the army. His wages are $54 a month. What is the general opinion there of General Gilmore? Don’t they think he is getting along rather slow? What do you think of the state of our affairs now? Do you think when this lull is broken next time, it will be by a “South” wind or will it be another “N. Easter”? There is the least news now that there has been for some time. It seems to be the same thing from all quarters, viz “all quiet along the lines.”

We have not been on a drill since we have been here, but we have plenty of other duty to do. We have to go on guard or picket every two days. And when it is picket, we stay on two days. Then there is one regiment detailed for an in-line picket every day from the Brigade. They go out and stack arms on the parade ground at Guard Mounting and are considered on duty till they are relieved. Just as much as though they were on guard or picket and are obliged to keep on their equipment and stay in camp.

I don’t think of anymore to write. So, I will draw to a close. Write as soon as you get this and write often, whether you get an answer or not.

From

Roscoe Doble
Company K, 16th Maine
1st Brigade, 2nd Division
1st Army Corps

Red Badge of 1st Division
White Badge of 2nd Division
Blue Badge of 3rd Division