“I heard you broke open my Wife’s letter open. I felt rather vexed. I hope you had no bad motive in it. I know that my business lays in your hands, but I hope you won’t [hurt] me or mine…. Remember you are a husband & Father of Children, & if you was here you would wish them to have a friend. So therefore, I shall expect you to befriend mine.”

Item No. 6833888

In this October 1862 letter, Private Theodore S. Downes of the 16th Maine writes about his enlistment bounty, the welfare of his family, and J.E.B. Stuart’s Chambersburg Raid.

From his regiment’s camp near Sharpsburg, “Mireland,” Downes writes to a friend who evidently had been handing his finances. He opens the letter acknowledging receipt of his friend’s letter, “stating that you had not got my Town Bounty.” He adds that he had “written you 5 letters & [received] only one” in return. Things take an awkward turn when Downes states:

I heard you broke open my Wife’s letter open. I felt rather vexed. I hope you had no bad motive in it. I know that my business lays in your hands, but I hope you won’t [hurt] me or mine…. Tell my Wife I have not rec’d any money since I have been here, & I send her more of my Bounty than I kept myself, so we all Live in hopes of getting back in the Spring. But it looks so far I cannot see it. Remember you are a husband & Father of Children, & if you was here you would wish them to have a friend. So therefore, I shall expect you to befriend mine. Tell my Wife to be of good courage & if I live I shall be home when the War closes. Tell her I will send all of my earnings for her benefits.

He then addresses his friend’s evident interest in joining the Army and comments on Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart’s cavalry raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania that resulted in the burning of Chambersburg:

As you wrote me about your coming out here, I’ll say to you as a friend to stay at home. We lay on the Potomac. Quiet, not anything going on. A small raid by Cavalry (Stuart’s) into Pennsylvania & done some few injuries, but did not get off with a good deal. They are in Virginia again. We are still in the same Brigade as before. Our Col. has gone home on a furlough of 20 days.

At the close of the letter, Downes expresses hope that his wife will “write how Lincon grows, for I want to see him very much & all the rest.”

Records indicate that three weeks later on November 4, while Downes was on guard duty, an accidental wounding resulted in the loss of his hand. He was discharged December 13, 1862.

The letter was written on four pages of a 5” x 8” letter sheet, which features patriotic decoration—a colorful military scene where a mounted officer leas Union infantry forward. Underneath the scene are the lyrics to the popular tune “We Are Coming Father Abraham.” Light foxing and toning. Creased at the original mailing folds. The full transcript of the letter appears below.

Oct 15th 1862
Sharpsburg Mireland

Mr. Ritchard, Sir I will drop you a few lines & let you know how I am getting along & Co. Am well & rec’d your letter on the 29 of Sept stating that you had not got my Town Bounty. I answered that letter & have not rec’d any answer from it. I have written you 5 letters & rec’d only one. I should like to have you answer this as soon as you get it, for I want to hear from my folks & business & all the rest of you. I heard you broke open my Wife’s letter open. I felt rather vexed. I hope you had no bad motive in it. I know that my business lays in your hands, but I hope you won’t [hurt] me or mine. I want you to write & tell me how my Crops turned out. Write me how many Apples I have, Pigs & Co. I hope you will write as often as you can. Tell my Wife I have not rec’d any money since I have been here, & I send her more of my Bounty than I kept myself, so we all Live in hopes of getting back in the Spring. But it looks so far I cannot see it. Remember you are a husband & Father of Children, & if you was here you would wish them to have a friend. So therefore, I shall expect you to befriend mine. Tell my Wife to be of good courage & if I live I shall be home when the War closes. Tell her I will send all of my earnings for her benefits.

As you wrote me about your coming out here, I’ll say to you as a friend to stay at home. We lay on the Potomac. Quiet, not anything going on. A small raid by Cavalry (Stuart’s) into Pennsylvania & done some few injuries, but did not get off with a good deal. They are in Virginia again. We are still in the same Brigade as before. Our Col. has gone home on a furlough of 20 days.

Have you fixed my barn so my corn will not be cold? Has my family got any need? Tell Dr. Howard I would like to have him a trot on that Bay.

Direct as before. Tell my Wife to direct to me 16th Me. Regt. Co. D, Washington D.C. Tell her to write often & I have not shut my eyes to sleep since I left home, but what I hope of home. Tell her I want her to write how Lincon grows, for I want to see him very much & all the rest. Regards to my family & all the rest. Yours as ever
T. S. Downes