5th Maine Infantry - Brevet Brigadier General

Item LTR-9708

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 6 pages, written in period ink.


Head Quarters 5th Maine
Camp near White Oak Church, VA
February 5, 1863

My Dear Wife,

I do not know as I will ever get away from this place as everything moves so slow. I am in command of the Regiment and it is next to an impossibility to get away. I thought that when I wrote my last I would be on my way to see you before this but as my papers do not get along I thought I had better write so not keep you in suspense. Perhaps if I had put in for a leave I could have got away before now. But I put in a request that I be ordered to Maine to look after the recruiting of my regiment and to take back what I find able to join this regiment now at the convalescent camp near Alexandria City. But none of the papers have come back yes that is for the two commissioned officers and seven enlisted men as we have a chance to grant leave for that number for fifteen days and at the expiration of that time if they all return we let as many more leave. Sergeant Sawyer is the one from Company I. I hope he will have as good time as Sir has had. He was married while we were in camp near Portland and only slept with his wife one night. It is now near two o’clock p.m. and the weather is quite cold and it has been snowing all day but two or three inches has yet come but the ground is froze some so it will not go off very readily. Capt W. is still very anxious about being made Major. But I do not take much interest in the matter as I think it will all come out right. I am expecting Freeman here this week as he wrote me he would come down. I have not seen him since I was at his camp a long time ago and do not know how he is. I wrote Nigel yesterday and sent him his description list. He is at Chestnut General Hospital near Philadelphia is about the same as when he left this camp. There is nothing new here. All is running in the old channel that is quietly along. Fighting Joe we like pretty well. He says when we move we shall know where he is going and what he is going after and what kind of rebel force he will have to contend with that is just my idea. I like him because he was schooled under little Mac. I see by the papers that Mac is going to Portland. If so I hope you may see him as he is one of the best men in the world. He always looked well after all under him and in fact he can keep a Hotel. All you New England folks will love him after you once see him. He will have friends wherever he goes and may the blessing of heaven attend him through the ice bound region of the north. How I wish he could once more command this Army. But still I put great confidence in our present General. I also wish that there were less traitors, at the North and why it is that treason is allowed and worst then the Friends of Hell are these that are aiding and abetting. This damnable curse upon our once peaceful and glorious country. The blood of hundreds of thousands rest upon their guilty heads. It causes my heart to bleed as I look over the past. This war has already made its half a million of orphan children and probably not less than one hundred thousand widows besides the broken hearted Maids and the Fathers and Mothers that has been made childless.

I know the arm chair is empty by many a fireside in New England and there once happy occupants are now moldering in dust on the banks of the Chickahominy, James and Rappahannock. Is it not awful to reflect upon? As I once said in one of mine to you that the whole of N. Eastern Virginia is honeycomb with the graves of the freeman and still I hear there is those of our good old Pine Tree state who is hand in hand with this cursed rebellion. I also know that thousands of deserters are hid up in their New England houses which have received bounty from these states and from the pockets of the honest farmers and still the thing is allowed. Why it is that such things is put up with. Is there a young lady in Maine that would smile upon such. They should pop them with scowls and obliterate them from the bosom. The mark of Cain should be put upon them and they should be banished from our lands. You say in one of yours that you think I have changed in politics. I do not see it. I hope I have the same love of country as ever. I must admit I do not put so much confidence in many that is connected in the affairs of the nation at war as I once did. I have found that all is not gold that glistens. There is compliance in high places. I know I found some fault with the removal of our General but then perhaps it was for the best. I also was and am now afraid they would carry the thing so far into politics to divide the north and in fact the thing is weakening bad at the north. I fear there is less union now than it was months ago. I know you are in hopes this thing will be settled at any rate but I go in for fighting the thing out of it can be at any rate. (Thursday evening) It is now seven o’clock and the rain is coming down in torrents. I hardly know what to write you as but little news in camp. The war news you get as soon or before we do. I have just been measured for a jacket by a New York tailor. You need not laugh as I think I will look well in a fancy military jacket. There will be some gold lace about I reckon but then you will say I am foolish in having it. I dare not tell you the cost. I owe twenty eight dollars (28). I should not went into that extravagance if it had not been done by all of the offices in our Brigade that is field officers. So you see I could not get away very well. It is to be done by the middle of next week and perhaps you will see some gold lace next week if I get away. I will now hang up till the mail comes. (Friday night) I have not heard a word from my papers yet so cannot tell you a word or rather give you a word of comfort. Say to G &C that I have got one horse and can get them one more here so it will not cost them much fix a team if they come. Del L is here with me and will go to Maine I think the same time I do as his papers is in for a leave.

Regards to All,

C. S. Edwards