Eben Roberts, 21st Maine, to Mary Calderwood, 1863
Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
Eben Roberts of Co. H, 21st Maine Infantry wrote to his cousin Mary Calderwood at Vinalhaven on April 1863. Mary's husband, Eben Calderwood, was in the same company and regiment, serving in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Calderwood had suggested Roberts write to Mary with his views on the war, something Mary had expressed an interest in.
Roberts wrote that he did not think the war would end under the Lincoln administration, a view echoed by Eben Calderwood. He wrote, "the Back Bone of this Rebellion is in my opinion Broken and if the officers were what they aught to be this war would soon dry up."
He added that he was surprised that "the female sex took so active part in this war as they do till I come here. The officers are well provided with all the Boarding houses they want and Everything goes on in about the same still a disgrace to themselves and their Country to this war is to make money and that is about all their is about it."
Roberts died on June 27, 1863 at Baton Rouge.
View additional information about this item on the Maine Memory Network.
