Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to Rebecca Frick
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.053 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: White House, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: May 1864 Pagination: 8 p. ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm. Order a Copy
Written to his aunt, Mrs. George A. Frick (Rebecca Frick). He writes that he is stiff and sore from a seventeen-mile march from Cold Harbor to Whitehouse. Updates his aunt on the locations of the various corps. Reports on rumors that the 18th corps will be going back to Bermuda Hundred and the rest will be making another one of Grant's flanks towards the north bank of the James River. the men were met by calls and taunts from the enemy and responded with "volies of musketry, grape, camister, and shrapinel." Is looking forward to moving to a new camp, possibly in the North or South of the James River. Complains that their current location is very accessible to the rebel sharpshooters who sit up in the trees. Reports that another man in the company, John Groner, was wounded in the neck, bringing the total number to fourteen men that have been wounded since arriving at Whitehouse. Tells his aunt that he was almost killed by a shot to the head, but the bullet went through his cap instead. Reports another instance where he was almost killed. States he is getting quite good at dodging and throwing himself to the ground.
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.
Painter likely misdated this letter, as the events he describes took place during the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia (1-3 June 1864). Based on the location from which Painter writes and his description of the recently completed march, it is likely that this letter was written on or around 13 June 1864.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.