Nelson Jones - Letters From a Maine Soldier, Part 1

Nelson W. Jones, circa 1862.
(Maine Historical Society)
 

Nelson W. Jones was born in 1843 in Palermo, a rural town near Maine's rocky coast. His father, Nelson, Sr. was a farmer near the town. As many young men did at the time, Nelson enlisted in the 3rd Maine Infantry Regiment on June 4, 1861. During his time in the army, he wrote to his father and mother Hannah, multiple times. Here is one of the first letters after his enlistment, written after the Union defeat at the Battle of Bull Run:

[ed. note: all spelling and syntax have been preserved from the original letter.]


~~~~~

Claremount Virginia

July 28, 1861

Dear parents I will write you a few lines

to let you know I am well and hope thise

few lines will find you the same I was paid

of yesterday the balance due me from

maine nine dollars and I will send you

five of it I shall be paid from the United

States in about 20 days and I will send

you some more I am well and have

written to you third this week before and once

to Amelia I suppose you have heard of last Sundays

Proceedings old mcdowal is going to be hung

they say if it had not been for him we should

got the victory he has been courtmarshaled

and Seceasion papers found with him but generall

mcclelan is going to be our general now I shall have

to close as it is most mail time write as son

as you get this: From Nelson V. Jones To his parents

direct as usual Washington D C 3 reg Co I ME In

Source: Nelson W. Jones Pension File, WC 19616, National Archives