Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to sister Ella
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.027 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Batchelder's Creek, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 15 January 1863 Pagination: 6 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
He has traveled from Norfolk to Fortress Monroe by the steamer "Expounder". Complains that the steamer was unsafe for transportation and that the men suffered from seasickness. The soldiers continued on to Beauford (also known as old Troxel Inlet), boarded another dangerous vessel, and disembarked at Morehead, where they took the railroad to New Bern, North Carolina. States that General Burnside "whiped the rebs so handsomely" that there were hundreds of graves everywhere. Gives a lengthy explanation of a long march through the woods. Reports on a skirmish along the railroad. States that New Bern is nicely laid out but has much poverty. Describes the poor people he meets and writes that "ignorance of the masses in the South accounts for this rebellion." The last page of the letter is cross-written.
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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