Civil War Letters Of Algernon H. Scribner, 1862 – 1864

Transcribed by Jean F. Hankins in 2011 for the Otisfield Historical Society, with permission of owner Hal Ferguson of Otisfield.

These letters follow Algernon’s military service and preserve the correspondence sent by his family and fellow soldiers. Each letter has its own page. The order follows the source transcription, including dates that the source questions.

Historical language: The first letter contains racist language, retained as part of the historical document.

Read the letters

1. Algernon to his father: October 18, 1863 (as transcribed)
2. Algernon to his father: November 2, 1862 (date questioned in source)
3. Algernon to his parents: November 14, 1862 (date questioned in source)
4. Algernon to his father: December 14, 1862 (month uncertain)
5. Algernon to his father: December 1, 1862
6. Algernon to his parents: January 1, 1863
7. Algernon to his mother: February 2, 1863
8. Algernon to his father: February 14, 1863, with an additional entry
9. Algernon to his father: February 26, 1863
10. Algernon to his father: March 1863
11. Algernon to his father: March 27, 1863
12. Algernon to his aunt: April 11, 1863
13. Algernon to his father: April 11, 1863
14. Algernon to his father: June 10, 1863
15. Algernon to his father: January 29, 1864 (day uncertain)
16. Algernon to his father: February 18, 1864
17. Algernon to his father: February 20, 1864
18. Algernon to his father: March 27, 1864
19. Algernon to his father: April 5, 1864
20. Algernon to his father: April 20–27, 1864
21. Grandmother to Algernon: June 2, 1864
22. David M. Scribner to Algernon: June 5, 1864
23. Joseph Knight to David M. Scribner: June 13, 1864
24. Whitman Sawyer to David Scribner: July 6, 1864
25. Whitman Sawyer to D. M. Scribner: September 17, 1864

Original transcription

Download the complete letters (PDF). Historical spelling and the transcriber’s uncertain readings are retained.

Timeline of important events

1861

April 12-13 – Battle of Fort Sumter, Beginning of the Civil War

June 15 – Charles E. Scribner, younger brother of Algernon Scribner, dies at age 14

July 21 – First Battle of Bull Run at Prince William County, Virginia. Confederate victory

1862

August 29-30 –  Second Battle of Bull Run at Prince William County, Virginia. Confederate victory

September 29 – Maine 25th Volunteer Infantry mustered in for 9 months at Portland, Maine under Colonel Francis Fessenden. Algernon Scribner joins at 17 ½ years old

October 16 – Maine 25th Volunteers leave for duty in Washington, D.C.

October 18 – Maine 25th Volunteers provide garrison duty in defense of Washington, D.C.

1863

March 24 – Maine 25th Volunteers moved to Chantily, Virginia

June 16 – Maine 25th Volunteers moved to Arlington Heights, Arlington, Virginia

June 27 – Battle of Portland Harbor. Confederate raiders attempt to seize a revenue cutter, leading to battle. Further inflames Maine people’s ire against the Confederacy

June 30 – Maine 25th Volunteers ordered home

July 1 – 3 – Battle of Gettysburg. Union victory. Turning point in the war

July 10 – Maine 25th Volunteers mustered out

December 16 – Algernon Scribner’s mother, Emiline (Patch) Scribner, dies at age 40

1864

January 8 – Maine 30th Volunteers mustered in under Colonel Francis Fessenden at August, Maine. Algernon Scribner reenlists

January 31 – Maine 30th Volunteers leaves Maine by ship, bound for New Orleans, Louisiana

February 16 – Maine 30th Volunteers arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana

February 16 – 18 – Maine 30th Volunteers on duty in Algiers, Louisiana

March 16 – May 22 – Maine 30th Volunteers involved in the Red River Campaign

April 8 – Battle of Sabine Crossroads

April 23 – Cane River Crossing

May 12 – Colonel Fessenden promoted to Brigadier General. Thomas Hubbard promoted to Colonel

May 13 – Retreat to Morganza, Louisiana

July 2 – Being moved to New Orleans, Louisiana

July 3 – Algernon Scribner dies of dysentery, 19 years of age, aboard transport to New Orleans. Buried there in a now unmarked grave