Part 20 of 25 in Civil War Letters of Algernon H. Scribner. The date below is the letter’s historical date; the article retains the collection’s publication date.
Letter transcription
[ 20 April 1864, Alexandria, New Orleans, LA] [Dateline Grand & Cover, Apr. 20 1864]
Dear Father, I received a letter from you yesterday which I with much Interst. Was glad you was well. I am well but do not feel very smart have got the Disentary pretty bad. we are in the same place that we were when I wrote you before but expect to move tomorrow the river is falling so that we cannot get supplies and the Pun Boat cannot get up anny further probably we shall go back to Alexandria. It is rumored that we are going into the Army of the Potomac but I hope not. I had rather stay here can get more stuff to eat down here I mean Fruit well in regard to that Watch I intended to have stoped in Portland and to have sent Deck the money but things worked different than I expected therefore it has been delayed untill now[.] you have better pay him as I will save an extra Express bill and you shall loose nothing out of the operation and I don't think that I shall I promised to give him $18.00 have been offered more than that for it a dozen times. About that 200 order what have you done with It[.] write me next time when we are Paid off shall send you all except when it absolutely necessary for me to keep probably shall get a part of the Bounty when paid. You spoke about the boys I supposed you meant Otisfield boys they are about all played out Jim Smith and myself are the only boys in Co. C and the only ones in the Fights Simon Greenleaf, Richie Patch and Jack Scribner are all in the Hospital Greenleaf has got the Chronic Diarhia and the rest have got Fevers I should not think you would be lonesome as long as you can get enough to eat when you are without that you can talk about being lonesome. Eli Smith is here I saw him last night it is a poor chance to skedaddle here Jim White was taken by the Rebs and several others 10 I think are missing I would like some of your cider I think it would do me good we draw Whickey when the weather is rainy and after a hard days March I am getting so that I hardly know what to write I write about once a week have received two letter from [you] since I have been out here I guess you do not mean to hurt yourselves writing I must Close.
From you Son Algernon H. Scribner 1st Div 3rd Brigade 19th Corps Co. C 30th Maine Alexandria, April 27, New Orleans, LA
I wrote you this letter the 20th but have had no chance to send it but will now am pretty smart was in another fight last Saturday in which our Regiment suffered severely 140 men Killed and wounded out of the 30th Maine. Frank Tenny of Richmond was killed Meserve of Casco and Dan Murch wounded Col. Fessenden wounded.
Algernon H. Scribner [This would be the Battle of Monett's Ferry, April 23, 1864 and this would be the last letter Algernon would be able to write himself]
Source
Transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2011 for the Otisfield Historical Society, with permission of owner Hal Ferguson of Otisfield. Original spelling, uncertain readings, and editorial notes are retained.
Read the original transcription (PDF, starting on page 19).