Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to his sister
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.017 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Portsmouth, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: June 1862 Pagination: 4 p. ; 20.5 x 25 cm. Order a Copy
Writes from camp near Portsmouth, Virginia that he received his sister's letter and was happy to hear from her. Also writes that he sent home a sum of thirty dollars in a package sent along with the Captain. Refers to General McClellan as the "Napoleon of America." Describes a recent visit to a local church in Portsmouth where he was impressed by the furnishings but not by the orator of the service. He explains that the orator skipped over the prayer for the president and that he and his congregation were decidedly secessionists. He suspects that the men and boys of the congregation have either gone to war or are not religiously inclined. Reports that he and the captain are in good health and there are no soldiers in his regiment that are currently in the hospital. States that he is able to keep up with current affairs, as the soldiers are receiving the daily paper.
Before joining the service, Painter was a trained printer from Danville, Pennsylvania. He was mustered as a private into F Company of the 58th Pennsylvania infantry on 8 October 1861 and transferred to I Company on 1 March 1862. While in I Company, he was promoted to Sergeant and eventually mustered out on 21 January 1866 as First Lieutenant. Painter also held a post as Quartermaster's clerk, and performed freedman duties shortly after the war ended.
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