1862 SOLDIER LETTER – STEPHEN DODGE, 3RD MAINE INFANTRY; KILLED IN ACTION AT CHANTILLY, VA, SEPTEMBER 1862

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Item Code: 2024-473

This letter is four pages measuring approximately 8“ x 6“ and is written in period pencil on lined paper. The letter is in good condition with no visible damage, chips, or tears. There are fold lines present, however.

Cover measures approximately 5“ x 3 1/4“. Left side features figure of George Washington riding a horse carrying an American flag on a pedestal on which the word quotation mark Union close quotations is written. Letter is addressed in. Inc. to Mr. Sylvester dodge of Woolrich Maine. Reverse of cover shows water damage and folding along with small pinpricks of dark period ink. A pencil written date of 5/25/62 is written along the top edge. Water damage is also very visible on the front of the cover as well as folding to the left-hand side corners.

Bornin 1836, Stephen A. Dodge was a 24 year old resident of Woolwich, ME when he enlisted as a Private on 6/4/61. On that date he mustered into Co. D, 3rd Maine Infantry. Dodge was killed in action on September 1, 1862 at Chantilly, VA. He is buried in Nequasset Cemetery in Woolwich.

The letter reads:

Me. 3rd Brig. Encamped at bottom of bridge on the road to Richmond / May 25, 1862

Dear father

I have the pleasure to state that your letter of the 18th came to hand last Thursday which you may [?] I was [?] To receive for it had been some time since I had got any from home and was happy to learn that you were all enjoy and good health.

Since my last letter we have made rather slow progress to Richmond but sure Gen. Heintzleman‘s Army Corps keeps in the rear of this main body of the army to prevent the rebels from flanking also to scour the country and keep them in front and to protect the army supplies at which? We have moved 5 miles this for noon across the bridge. We are where the railroad lies which has the rolling stock at work now conveying supplies forward. This head of the army is very near Richmond now. And we are 15 miles from it. The roads are horrible through these swamps. The rebels blockaded the road by cutting down trees, burning the bridges it is tedious work to get the artillery in army teams through these sloughs. It is a herculean task to get an army over such swampy tracts of land as those one this is the? Where the rebels set out to make a stand they? A rifle first but when our army came up they thought it best to?. You got the news of what is going on in advance before and we do end. Why.? Of the 23rd we got this morning the suppression of the rebellion goes on is there mostly admits of the north advances there is no doubt that the rebels are very?

Col Ward of the 38 N. Y. Reg in our brigade offered to bet $1000 that the rebellion would be put down before three months and also that his regiment would be discharged in 3+ weeks I hope our regiment will be among the first that are discharged. There are only a very few regiments older than ours or smaller that don’t number over 400 effective man company D has only 34 guns in the stocks now. For I have just counted them. Then the other day three contraband came into our regiment one is very intelligent said he heard the rebs say that they were going to cut [?] all up after they got it away from the gun boats also they told the niggers the yankees would cut their ears off and then [?] so they would not be worth anything to their masters but darky said he did not fear it much. – We are all well Woodbury and the rest of the {woolen shirts?] that are along with us. George? Is at Yorktown.

I feel thankful to our heavenly father for this goodness to me in sparing my life and health and I hope and pray that he will protest and spare my life and returns me to my friends and parents in his own good time.

By what you wrote I think that you are getting too old to go into the woods with an ax and you had not ought to bring it for you get cold and it strikes all your system.

I sent Sarah, the 11th, $5 in a letter and I hope she got it safe.

Tell mother we are getting on well through our hard marches and through the good somethings of God hope we shall be safe in it? And the rebel army either captured or? To the four winds never? Again

Give my love to all the folks and [?] when convenient.

From your son Stephen A Dodge. [cla][ph:L]

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