Maine Memory Network

Contributed by Maine Historical Society

Description

Pvt. John Sheahan, Co. K, 1st Maine Cavalry, wrote to his father in Dennysville reiterating themes of many of his letters during the winter of 1863: soldiers were discouraged and the war was dull.

He wrote about rebels deserting the Confederate army in large numbers. Rebel soldiers reported they had been on half rations -- a half pint of flour and a quarter pound of bacon per day. He said no two rebel uniforms looked alike, most were ragged, and the soldiers suffering with the cold weather.

In addition, Sheahan wrote that if Dennysville people had seen what he had, it would "make their blood run cold." He said he hated slavery before the war, but now that he had seen it first hand, his hatred had doubled.

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Transcription

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About This Item

• Title: Pvt. John Sheahan on hatred of slavery, Virginia, 1863
• Creator: John Parris Sheahan
• Creation Date: 1863-04-08
• Subject Date: 1863
• Locations:
  • Belle Plain, Stafford County, VA
  • Dennysville, Washington County, ME
• Media: Ink on paper
• Dimensions: 20.3 cm x 12.7 cm
• Local Code: Coll. 184, Box 1/4
• Collection: John Parris Sheahan papers
• Object Type: Text

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Cross Reference Searches

Standardized Subject Headings

• Letters
• Military life
• Sheahan, John Parris--Correspondence
• Slavery
• Soldiers--Maine
• United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
• United States. Army. Maine Cavalry Regiment, 1st (1861-1865)

People

• Sheahan, John Parris

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For more information about this item, contact:

Maine Historical Society
485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website

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