Painter, Heber (1841-1900) to sister Anna
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.080 Author/Creator: Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Place Written: Richmond, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 April 1865 Pagination: 5 p. ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Written two days after Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomatox Court House. Describes the scene in Richmond a week after its fall. Criticizes Jefferson Davis' for fleeing after he called for the burning of Richmond. Writes that there were half starved children and women in Richmond whose food supplies had been cut off. Reports that the men in blue gave their food to begging children; an act which later reassured Richmonders that "they were among friends instead of enemies." Painter and his company had expected to encounter another struggle for the capitol after leaving Signal Hill, but instead found an abandoned Confederate camp. Describes more celebrating over the capture of Richmond and Lee's surrender.
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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