Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Pvt. John Sheahan of Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry wrote to his parents in Dennysville to let them know he was alive after the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. He also reported that his older brother William, a soldier in the 6th Maine Infantry, was fine.
Of going to battle, he wrote, "We were in camp near Aquia Creed so Old Abe came from Washington to see Burnside and he told him to move his army forward, and he would see that it was well supplied with provisions and other nessessarys. That was enough. Abe had only to say that he wished the army to advance and Burnside was ready."
He then described some of the battle and being on picket duty overnight with Rebel soldiers on the opposite side of the river. One of the Rebel soldiers talked to one of Sheahan's nearby pickets about going over for breakfast.
Transcription
About This Item
- Title: Pvt. John Sheahan on Battle of Fredericksburg, 1862
- Creator: John P. Sheahan
- Creation Date: 1862-12-19
- Subject Date: 1862
-
Locations:
- Dennysville, Washington County, ME
- Fredericksburg, VA
- Media: Ink on paper
- Dimensions: 19.4 cm x 14.9 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 184, Box 1/2
- Collection: John Parris Sheahan papers
- Object Type: Text
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- United States. Army. Maine Cavalry Regiment, 1st (1861-1865)
- United States. Army. Maine Infantry Regiment, 6th (1861-1864)
- Fredericksburg, Battle of, Fredericksburg, Va., 1862
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
- Letters
- Sheahan, John Parris--Correspondence
- Soldiers--Maine
People
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
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