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Civil War Yankee Letter Analysis

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This Civil War yankee letter was written by Thomas Horsefield Wentworth (1837-1917). Thomas was the son of Sina Wentworth (1799-1873) and Sarah Ann Horsefield (1808-1886) of Orneville, Maine. Thomas was educated at East Corinth Academy. He helped his father with the farming, hired out as a house carpenter, and taught school during the winter months before the call to become a Civil War yankee. When he was 24, he enlisted as a sergeant in Company H, 15th Maine Infantry, in December 1861. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in November 1863 and was discharged in March 1865. He was with his regiment through all their campaigns in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Texas, and finally in Virginia. He was remembered by his fellow soldiers as “a fine looking officer and as straight as an arrow.” …show more content…

Abigail was the daughter of Nelson Wheeler (1807-1890) and Abigail B. Hill (1815-1868). Thomas and Abigail were married on January 30th 1865 while Lt. Wentworth was home on furlough. It was with much pleasure that I perused two letters from you which I received yesterday. One was mailed the 29th of June and the other August 11th so I got news old and new. I am glad to hear that you are well [and] that you have closed your school and are having a rest. I hope that you will not be too anxious about a school for the winter for I hardly think that it will be profitable to you. I think that Mrs. Prescott’s report of myself is pretty flattering but I am not prepared to contradict or confirm just now. Since I last wrote, our regiment has moved from Camp Parapet to New Orleans. We are stationed at the base levee Cotton Press which is the base end of the city. It is a fine place and we are well situated but I do not know how long we may stay here. I think, however, that we shall not spend a very long time for we have orders to be ready to march at a moment’s

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