5th Maine Infantry - Colonel & Brevet Brigadier General

Item LTR-9415

Description

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


Headquarters, 5th Maine Infantry
Camp near White Oak Church, VA

Dear Wife,

I thought I must write you a line today but I do not get many to answers of late. As I expect you are looking for me home at about this time. But I cannot say when I will be there. As everything is so uncertain about our move. But still the Army cannot move for some time yet. As there has not been anything this winter than when it was so bad. We had a deep snow a few days ago and today it rained very hard. Mud . I will not undertake to describe as there is nothing I can compare it to. Yesterday was a beautiful day overhead something like a May day in Maine. George Barrows was here to see me. He is in the 17th Maine but he is very sorry he did not come out with me last winter. He would like to get transferred to this regiment. I can say I am proud of the Old Maine 5th yet. The boys are all in good spirits and we get along fine by me. As soon as our recruiting party gets back I expect our regiment will be full. That is if they all have as many as they can get. But honestly, we shall number about five hundred if they do not fetch any. That is without the officers. My regiment is gaining in number every day. Eight enlisted men went to Maine for our Regiment fifteen days ago. Three of them came back last night. They will come today I expect. Brother was one of the party that went. Two of the officers came night before last. The rest are coming tomorrow I expect. I do not know as I will try again as fifteen days is all I can be gone from the regiment and that will hardly pay for what it will cost. Still I would like to show the jacket. If I do not go, I will send you eight or ten hundred dollars. I now have eight hundred on hand and am not owing more than fifty or sixty dollars and Uncle Sam is owing me two months pay or will at the end of the month which is three hundred and fifty dollars. But if I should go home I would get that so you see I do not spend all my pay on drink or as many do. But that reminds me of three of my men that have gone home. One by the name of Deas. His wife had a baby three weeks old and he came out with the regiment. I presume he sent it in a letter to home and there is another one in Gorham or Standiff that has one three months old. And it is said there are hundreds of such cases in Maine. Many in Portland. What beautiful morals are set in our pure good state. The Dawren cowards at home that dare not leave loving families but I will drop that subject and write something else. You need not send anything by the Lee as I have more clothes than I can take care of. If I do not go home, I shall go to Washington soon and there will send my trunk and carpet bag. You can be on the lookout for some money and the trunk. I have a draft on New York for five hundred drawn to your order.

Which I got in December but as I have been expecting to go to Maine, so have not sent it. I sent you the copy of the letter I wrote Colonel Walker. Also the letter I received from here. Write me what you think of it. If Charles has not left before you receive this say to him not to come until he hears from me again. As the travelling is such he cannot get good to camp from the landing. Capt W. is well, also Dave and Jeremy. Brown Boys, Littlhales, Dan Stearns is not quite so smart as usual but is not much sick. My horses are looking fine. I wish I was at home as you could do anything with them. Hooker has more fire in him. He is a splendid horse. I wish you could ride him. He is one of the fast ones. The march goes in a few minutes so I must close. My regards to all the good folks. Miss the children.

From your

CSE