5th Maine Infantry

Item LTR-11560

Description

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


Camp near Harrison Landing
 
Morning, August 3^rd 1862
 
My Dear Wife,
 
Yours of July 27 and 29 is received and I hasten to answer them.  In yours of the 27^th, you speak of H. Pingree and of his leaving for Canada.  He went to the hospital at White House when we left there in May and I had not heard direct from him since, until I heard he was at Albany.  But as he was not much sick at the time of his leaving, I was satisfied he had deserted and I hope he will be taken and brought back and I would not care much if his sentence was to be shot.  As he was always a great coward.  
 
I cannot say I am not sorry that the school is gone to the devil.  As Cross is a mean low fellow and the doctor was not treated well.  
 
You speak of the Grass widow as getting along well.  I am glad to hear they are doing so well.  In one of the next sentences, you say I have not heard, as Dolly has been found yet and in the way you write it, I judge you had wrote about it before.  But this is the first I have heard and all I know about it until I received your letter last night.  But by your letter last night, it seems she got away but has been found.  
 
In yours of last night. You speak of the Major being appointed Lieutenant Colonel and you expect to see me appointed Major.  But I am not expecting it much.  As the Governor knows I will not serve under him as Major.  And there is a dozen more that is trying for the place from this regiment.  I shall know how the thing goes before you get this.  I presume but one thing is certain.  I will not take the place under Jackson nor will I allow any one jumped over me.  I asked for a place in one of the new regiments and it belonged to me and I think if my friend had done what they could, I should have obtained it.  But as it is, I presume I shall have a chance to stay at home a spell or obtain a place in some other state.
 
Colonel Frick wanted me to go to Pottsville with him and he thought I could obtain a place and if Washburn does not use me decently, well, I shall try to do something in that way.  You speak of my horse Mac.  He is very fair colt but not so handsome as some.  The flies is eating him up at the present time.  I never saw such a thing in Maine.  I see some of the horse’s leg is raw, made so by the flies.  But I am in hopes I may get him out of the place soon.  His wounds are most healed up and would have been quite if it was not for them.  I think a good deal of him.  For his being under fire and receiving such wounds.  I reckoned he should draw a pension.
 
You say all is right high and dry.  I am sorry to hear of it being dry but presume there can be some moisture get up by friction.  You speak of your new potatoes and peas and soon I expect that means cucumbers.  But I have had them all long ago.  I got some cucumbers out of the Gaines Garden in time of the fight.  We had least at Mechanicsville in May.  Also new potatoes.  So, you are just nowhere in having things early.  
 
You speak of Lieutenant Walker as being out with Miss Hamlin.  I think if he is able to be around, that he had better come back to his company.  As it has but one poor sick Lieutenant with it.
 
Captain Millett tells me he was at Gorham and South Windham.  So, it seems as soon as he gets his last papers or his leave extended to the 23^rd of August, he left for his Doxey.  Millett gets his information from letters from that place.
 
Your ask why Captain Brown resigned.  Also Small.  Both of them have been here since we first left Maine and Small has a family and Brown wants one.  And they first tried for leaves of absence and the papers come back disapproved.  So, they then resigned and they were disapproved the second time.  So, they are all here as yet.  
 
You speak of Mrs. Sauton a worrying about Jim.  I think he will go home the last of this week.  If I go and perhaps he will go, I do not go as he is not better.  Tell Kate the Clever fellow is better and I think he may recover again.  Tell her to look out for their Lieutenant as some of them are a little fast.  I do not feel very bad about Mary.  But hope she will have a good time a having it.  
 
You ask how Dave is.  He is not very well, but better than he was a week ago.  The rest of the boys are as well as usual.  James Ayers of the lower part of this town is not very well and I think may get discharged and go home in a few days.  I think of no other is very sick and he is so to go out around.  I am not in the company as of late.  As I have had the regiment to look after.  I just heard the Colonel was on his way here.  So, I think I may be at home the last of this week if I do make a misstep with Colonel Frick.  He wanted me to go home with him and stay a week.  But that will not pay.  
 
It is now Sunday PM and very hot.  I have had someone in with me all the time and finally it is almost impossible to write at all.  You must not complain if my letters are mixed up a little.  As so many noises that is impossible to write.  
 
I have nothing new to write.  Only we are getting along well.  Our court adjourned since and I Post night after a session of one week and tried thirteen cases and some of them hard ones.  We have not been paid off as yet and I have but five cents left and are owing fifty dollars here but will be all right in a day or two.  
 
I received a letter from Colonel M. H. Danville last night.  He is at Buxton.  He wrote me something concerning the way that things went at August but I will not tell you now.  I shall go to Washington and Alexandria, as I have some things there to get when I go home and shall be in much of a hurry about it.  As I have had a hard time and all now going to take this easy.
 
Clarke
 
I send Nelly a paper that has the fight at Charles City Cross Road.  But it is not correct as the regiment that lays next to the ambulance is ours and I had command of it that day.  But the artist is a New Yorker.  So, he calls it the sixteenth.  Keep the paper, as I shall have the picture framed.