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OLD 1864 MAINE CIVIL WAR LETTER -- FT PREBLE, GRAY, PORTLAND -- WITH STATE SEAL LETTERHEAD
STATE OF MAINE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Augusta, 1864
illustrated letterhead with State Seal on the front page of this old Union home front 4-page Civil War letter, 5 x 8, written in dark ink on attractive lined-blue paper.
In spite of the official Maine Government letterhead, the letter appears to be written by a young girl named Abbie while visiting in Portland, Maine back home to her sister in Gray Maine (Gray is in Cumberland County about 15 miles north of Portland, Maine). The letter contains mostly generic home-front war news and local gossip concerning family activities.
Abbie begins her letter on Monday, August 15th 1861 and writes:
I will try and answer your kind letter which I received one night last week and was very glad to get it for I did not know as I was ever going to hear from Gray again. I went over to FORT PREBBLE yesterday with Mr. Davis Emma went with us. I saw Sammy over there. He said that he had been up to Gray a week. He also said that he was over to your house and I asked him how the folks was. He said they were all well but Uncle Deira(?) said he had a very lame hand. What is the matter with it and is it not any better?
She continues with family news and mentions that:
I saw a man in bathing yesterday--quite a sight. . . . I had a very good time to the Islands I think it is splendid to sail. . . . The horse cars run here now but I have not had a ride in them yet. I go to Sabbath School yet and I like it very much. I wish they would have such a Sabbath School out to Gray. . . . I must ask after all of the boys as I should be in fashion. . . . You said you wished I and Henry would come up and GO TO THE SHAKERS. I guess we shall. His mother would kill me and him too. . . Have you rode horseback yet? I will send your riding skirt out the first chance I get. . . WHAT DO THEY THINK ON THE DRAFT OUT THERE-- AWFUL THING ARENT IT? , and on other subjects as well.
Fort Preble was begun in 1808 during the administration of President Jefferson and completed before the War of 1812. It was named for Commodore Edward Preble, native of Portland and prominent naval officer. The fort was later enlarged and renovated. It guarded the entrance to Portland Harbor and played a strategic role in coastal defenses until its deactivation in 1950.
Few stains and fold lines (see scan) but otherwise the letter is in good condition and on paper of good rag content.
Price= $95.00
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