1862 - Letter from a volunteer serving in a three-month regiment from Rhode Island that occupied a position overlooking the Potomac River and Robert E. Lee's home in defense of Washington, DC

Battery Cameron, Washington DC, 1862. Envelope or Cover. Very good. This four-page letter from Private James Padelford to his mother in Providence, Rhode Island is datelined "July 18th Battery Cameron". The letter is enclosed in its original mailing envelope franked with a 3-cent Washington stamp (Scott #65) and bearing a circular double-ring Washington DC postmark. In nice shape.

Padelford was assigned to Company E, 10th Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers, a volunteer regiment bound to only three-months service at the beginning of the Civil War. The regiment mustered into service at Providence on 26 May 1862 and mustered out of service (truncated) on 1 September. While on active duty it was assigned to the ring of forts and batteries protecting Washington, DC that surrounded the city. It reads in part:

"It is very hot out here when the sun shines and the boys sweat like rain doing nothing. . .. We have moved. . .. We were at Fort Ripple, a small earth work of six guns, 24 pounders. Last Thursday we went in the rain two miles and a half to get our new rifles [and then] came down here three miles and a half to Cameron, a small breast work of two 42 pounder James Rifle Guns. . ..

"We command the upper part of the Potomac. We have the rebel General Lee's house over the river from us and several encampments and forts in sight. . ..

"The first of this week, we had a sad accident happen to the wagoner of this company. His horses took fright and run away with him and threw him off and the wheels passed over him and broke his collar bone and mashed his arm and cut him in the forehead. . ..

"If you want my [carte de] visite, send me another dollar so that I can get it taken and send it to you. . .. We have one deserter in the Company, His name was William Allen. . .." . A nice descriptive letter from a young soldier doing his part to defend the capitol from Confederate forces encamped just across the Potomac River in Virginia near Arlington. Today, the site is sandwiched between the German Embassy and George Washington University's Mount Vernon Campus. . (Inventory #: 010301)