Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to sister Kate
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.040 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: New Bern, North Carolina Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 September 1863 Pagination: 3 p. ; 25.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Writes to reassure his sister that he is well. Urges her to look on a map and trace his trip from the mouth of the Neuse River to the Pamplico River and then onto Washington, North Carolina; a distance of 110 miles. Reports that rebels destroyed the office of the Raleigh "Standard" and in retaliation friends of the editor of the newspaper destroyed the office of the "State Journal"; the latter being considered "the mouthpiece of the Confederacy in this state (North Carolina)".
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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