Marshall Phillips to wife on reenlistment, 1864
Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Marshall Phillips of the 5th Maine Regiment wrote from Virginia to his wife, Diana, of Auburn, in February 1864.
He asked her opinion of his reenlisting for three years in a battalion to fix roads and build bridges. He said he would get a 30-day furlough and government payments for reenlisting. He assured her he would not be involved in battles.
He said his service would end when the war ended, if that came before the three years was up.
"But Dear wife," he wrote, "I shall not inlist with out your concent as a grate many Solgers do."
He enlisted in May 1861 at age 38.
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