Maine Memory Network

John P. Sheahan (1842-1894) wrote to his father in Dennysville to tell him that he had enlisted "for Biddeford" in the Cavalry and gotten his town bounty of $100.

Sheehan said the papers he had taken to Augusta with him were "no good" and he had to enlist again. He promised his father he would not drink any liquor while in the service.

Sheahan served in Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry from August 1862 until March 1864. He was then commissioned as an officer in the 31st Maine Infantry and served until July 1865.

About a week after his enlistment in the 1st Maine Cavalry, John P. Sheahan of Dennysville wrote to his parents saying, "The cavalry boys are 'tip top' they are by far the best soldiers that have camped here this summer."

He also reported that "no money could tempt me to come home again I am with good boys and in a good cause."

Sheahan wrote that he knew there was danger, but was "willing and ready to take my place and chance."

He added, "If I can do anything to help put down this rebbelion, what is my little life compare with peace and union."

Sheahan served until July 1865, switching to the 31st Maine Infantry in March 1864.

Newly enlisted in Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry, John Parris Sheahan wrote to his mother in Dennysville about having his photograph taken.

He reminded her that her last words when he left home were "send me your picture." He thought the one he had taken was good.

He noted that he was still at camp in Augusta and was unsure when the regiment would leave for Virginia. He had enlisted on August 23, 1862.

Pvt. John Sheahan of the 1st Maine Cavalry, with his unit in Washington, D.C., awaiting issuance of horses, wrote to his father in Dennysville that "there is men coming from the battle field every day to Washington churches and in fact every building that can be procured is turned into a hospital."

He reported on the unit's trip from Maine to Washington.

Pvt. John Sheahan of the 1st Maine Cavalry, camped outside Washington, D.C., reported to his parents in Dennysville that "the poor whites are worse than the negroes by far, for they dress better and keep cleaner people wont believe this but it is so..."

He also told them to keep his younger brother Ned from enlisting. "It is no honor to be a private they are used like dogs. You never got used as I have since I left home."

Sheahan enlisted in August 1862 and served in the 1st Maine Cavalry, then the 31st Maine Infantry until July 1865. He became a physician after the war.

Pvt. John Sheahan of the 1st Maine Cavalry camped outside Washington, D.C., wrote to his father and sister in Dennysville to encourage them to write to him. He stressed how hard it was to have no old friends to talk with.

He also asked them to "keep all the letters that I write tie them up in little bundles, don't them them lay round for when I come home I shall want them all."

He expected the war to end before his nine-month enlistment was up.

Sheahan served in the 1st Maine Cavalry until March 1864 when he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the 31st Maine Infantry. He was discharged in July 1965.

Pvt. John Sheahan of Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry wrote to his parents in Dennysville about a month after his enlistment.

Sheahan wrote from Washington, D.C., that his company had moved from barracks to tents about a half mile out of the city -- and that the tents were an improvement because they were not infested with lice.

He wrote, "We are having good times here now we only drill about 3 hours a day and the rest we loaf."

The end of the letter appears to be missing.

Pvt. John Sheahan of Co. K, 1st Maine Cavalry, wrote to his father in Dennysville about Frederick, Maryland, which he described as "far the best looking city I have seen in Maryland." Sheahan and the 1st Maine Cavalry had been in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding countryside for about a month.

He also commented on the shallow graves of Rebel soldiers and the "high glee" of residents that the Union army had driven the Confederate soldiers out of the area.

Serving with the 1st Maine Cavalry, guarding Frederick, which the Union army just captured from the Confederates, Pvt. John P. Sheahan of Dennysville wrote to his father in October 1862.

Sheahan noted that many residents were trying to leave the city to avoid being drafted into the Union army. He said they were headed to Virginia, preferring the serve with the Confederacy.

He wrote that the war did not look close to ending, but that the nation "deserved" the punishment for keeping people in bondage, much as God punished the "Pharis for keeping the children of israel in bondage."

Writing to his parents in Dennysville, Pvt. John P. Sheahan of the 1st Maine Cavalry reported on his unit moving into a campground previously held by the Confederates.

Sheahan noted that they ate roasted pig and sheep and that Gen. Jackson ordered the retreating Confederate soldiers to take three days rations of corn from a field through which they marched.

"They cannot stand it much longer," he predicted, noting that they had no supplies.

Writing from Monocacy, Maryland, Pvt. John P. Sheahan of the 1st Maine Cavalry wrote to his father in Dennysville about the numbers of cattle, horses, and cars that passed by every day heading for the front.

He wished that his brother, William, were in the cavalry, which he said was easier than the infantry. William was a sergeant in Co. F of the 6th Maine Infantry. A year after this letter was written, William was killed at Rappahannock Station, Virginia.

Sheahan also complains about the officers in his unit.

Pvt. John P. Sheahan of Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry, who had been in the army three months, wrote to his father in Dennysville from a "Camp in the field" that he had been made orderly to Gen. Truman A. Seymore.

He reported that while his regiment was on a march, they passed the 6th Maine and he saw his older brother, William, who was serving in Co. F of the 6th Maine.

Sheahan reported on the difficulty of sending and receiving mail and on wishing he could be at home for Thanksgiving. He hoped to go home during the winter.

Writing to his father in Dennysville, Pvt. John Sheahan of Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry, noted that the regiment was unexpectedly moving to what the soldiers thought would be their winter quarters.

Sheahan said moving was better than setting up winter quarters because, "if we are going to put down this rebellion now is the time to do it."

He also told his father he had seen "some live rebels" and that "all of them says that the north never can whip the south."

He then wrote, "I only hope and pray that the war may end soon for oh the suffering that it causes you have no idea of."

Pvt. John P. Sheahan of Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry, wrote to his parents in Dennysville about their desire to hear from him -- and his desire to hear from them.

"A letter from home cheers a fellow up out here among strangers," he wrote. After his signature on the letter, he wrote, "Save all my letters don't lose one."

He also commented on seeing his older brother, William, a private in Co. F of the 6th Maine Infantry. They visited for a few minutes before John Sheahan had to ride on with his company.

Sheahan wrote about how he and other soldiers had gotten a hen, butter, and cream from houses where they were patrolling.

Pvt. John P. Sheahan (1842-1894) of the 1st Maine Cavalry wrote to his father in Dennysville about the Battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 11-15, 1862.

"I am safe and so is William," he wrote, referring to his brother, a sergeant in the 6th Maine Infantry, that also was involved in the battle.

"We were whipped," he wrote of the Union loss.

Sheahan asked his father to send him several items, including newspaper accounts of the battle.

Pvt. John Sheahan of Co. K of the 1st Maine Cavalry wrote to his parents in Dennysville to let them know he was alive after the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. He also reported that his older brother William, a soldier in the 6th Maine Infantry, was fine.

Of going to battle, he wrote, "We were in camp near Aquia Creed so Old Abe came from Washington to see Burnside and he told him to move his army forward, and he would see that it was well supplied with provisions and other nessessarys. That was enough. Abe had only to say that he wished the army to advance and Burnside was ready."

He then described some of the battle and being on picket duty overnight with Rebel soldiers on the opposite side of the river. One of the Rebel soldiers talked to one of Sheahan's nearby pickets about going over for breakfast.

John Parris Sheahan wrote to his family in Dennysville, December 26, 1862 from a camp near Belle Plain, Virginia.

He predicted that Gen. Ambrose Burnside would not go into winter quarters with so much work left to do to keep the Confederates from further protecting Richmond. He criticized the way both Burnside and Gen. George McClellan had attempted to reach Richmond.

Of the rebels, he wrote, "I am in hopes that we shall whip them but truely things look dark."

Sheahan enlisted in the 1st Maine Cavalry on August 23, 1862. He mustered out in March 1864, was commissioned as an officer in the 31st Maine Infantry and served until July 15, 1865.