Civil War: Maine 18th Heavy Artillery Soldier Killed At Petersburg, Camp Deaths
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:124519 |
The 1st Regiment, Maine HeavyArtillery was organized at Bangor as the 18th Infantry, mustered inon August 21, 1862, and changed to the 1st on January 6, 1863. Theregiment fought in many battles including Cold Harbor, Hare’s House, Assault onPetersburg, Siege of Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, Deep Bottom, Hatcher’s Run, Appomattox Campaign, Fall of Petersburg and Appomattox Court House (thesurrender of Lee and his army). The writer of the letter offered here fought ina number of the b...attles but was killed at Petersburg on June 18, 1864. HORATIO P. NASH enlisted as aPrivate when he was 20 and was mustered into H Co. of the Maine 18thInfantry. He was transferred into H Co. of the Maine 1st HeavyArtillery on December 19, 1862. Offeringhis 4 pp, 5 x 8, ALS, dated November 7, 1863, from Camp Stetson, to FriendCecilia Long, in pencil. His letterspeaks mostly of the large number of sick soldiers and their deaths. “…It is truly heartrending to seewhat the sick suffer here. About ½ of the regt. are unfit for duty, a large numberare sick in the hospital tents on the ground. A few are sent to the cityhospitals, officers mostly. The men have but little confidence in the abilitiesof doctors and the men are dying almost daily. Two men died last night on thecamp ground. One died yesterday down to the city hospital and one on the daybefore without anyone with them but the attendants who are pretty well hardenedand think more of their own comfort than that of their patients. About 30 havedied since we came out here. I don’t know the reason but this seems to be avery sickly regt. The men that are well seem to be in good spirits and thedeath of a comrade does not seem to have the effect on them that it would athome…Today we are having a snowstorm and all hands are in camp and some arereading, some playing cards, some singing…Bigelow Barton & Yemry D.Tibbitts of Columbia are sick in the hospital…As to the war, they talk of doingsomething but I don’t know what. We hear so many rumors…We never know where we aregoing until we get there. We have the same tents we had in Bangor and liveafter the same style. I expect when we get home (if we ever do) we shall bepretty rough in manners…We have a guard here same as in Bangor but this is abad day for the men…” Folds, light toning, in pencil. Veryreadable. Research included. Everything we sell is guaranteedauthentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy.If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact usimmediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of TheManuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club and The EphemeraSociety. [CW 124]
