Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to sister Kate
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.026 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 30 November 1862 Pagination: 2 p. ; 31.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Complains that he is being kept in town for recruiting despite the poor recruitment rate. Writes that recruiting costs $219 a month and feels that the government should act more economically instead of wasting money on recruiting parties. He was paid the first of November and forwarded $10 to "Em" (his sister Emma). He used the remainder of the money to buy some wardrobe items. Describes his Thanksgiving Day as very dull. Reports that there is an interesting murder case going on, so he has been attending court to pass the time. Writes that he is in good health and weighs 140 lbs.
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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