Leonard Valentine of Westbrook, who worked in a lumber mill, was 22 when he mustered into the 25th Maine Infantry as a private on September 29, 1862. His was a nine-month enlistment.
Several of his letters to his family have survived.
The 25th Maine was assigned to garrison duty to defend Washington, D.C. for most of its nine-months service.
After the war, Valentine married a woman named Laura. They had six children. He was listed in various censuses as a confectioner, saloon keeper, merchant, and real estate agent.
