Please use BACK BUTTON ON BROWSER to return to main list
NINE LOVELL MAINE CIVIL WAR HOME FRONT LETTERS 1861-63

Price= $795.00

Rare grouping of NINE related HOME FRONT CIVIL WAR LETTERS FROM RURAL LOVELL, MAINE. The writers strongly express Democratic sentiments against abolition, against Lincoln, against Republicans, against the draft, and against the war to free the slaves. Included is much interesting local news from the Lovell area of Maine.

The letters are mostly written from a Maine mother to her son in Pennsylvania.
Her last letter arrived just a few months before his death at age 22 years.
{See brief family Genealogy at end of this description.}


The 9 letters and 6 stamped envelopes are as follows:

LETTER #1)--6 October 1861, Harriet Dresser writes from Lovell, Maine to her son Horace Dresser. Four page letter 6.5 x 8.25” written in light ink on white lined paper. 1 x 6” strip cut out of top of first page (doesn’t effect text), otherwise good condition. Stamped cover with circular “Lovell Me” postmark addressed to Mr. Horace Dresser, Armagh, PA. Envelope is opened along the left side.
MUCH local news from the Lovell Maine area. Description of several Lovell men who have enlisted in the army, got drunk, “run the guard” [deserted] to get back home , and “now keeps hid.”
A FULL transcription (to give an idea of the newsy style of writing in all these letters) follows:
“Lovell (Maine) Oct. 6, 1861
My Dear Son,
We are glad to receive our letters. E.H. got her letter last night, and as was not at home today to write, I will not let the day pass without writing you. How glad I am that you are well and got work now. Be careful and not expose yourself in any way to be sick. You have got a good woman to board with- I feel as though you was among your own folks.
We are all well. Your father has had a sick spell since you went away. For a number of days he could not work, but is well now. Eben has gone over to Mart’s today with Dan. E.H. is down to Jim’s with Ann Dresser as Uncle Nate is over from Andover with Ann. They are coming here tonight, go home tomorrow. His family was well when he started from home last Tuesday. Aunt Maria is failing fast. Dr. Parker has given her over to die, says there is no help for her. The rest of the family is well.
James has been at home this week from Waterford, going back this week. Randall is still going to school at (?). Moses Eastman and wife has just gone from here well and smart. [They] think of going to Andover this Fall. We talk some of going with them. Riley Charles has taken your place to Jim’s Hutchins. Aunt Ann enquires for you, sends her best respects to you, says she misses you very much.
Edwin and Nels(?) got some STUFF CALLED PHOSPHORUS, CARRIED IT IN THEIR STORE ROOM AND IT, IGNORED, SET THE ROOM ON FIRE, BURNT THE END OF THE MAIL CHEST TO A COAL. Jim and May was two scared children for a few moments. It was soon put out as it was in the daytime. If it had been in the night it would all burnt to ashes. Jim thought the fright was punishment enough for the boys it passed of. Henry still boards to May’s. He CARRIED A GIRL TO THE CIRCUS, GOT DRUNK, and had to be led off to doze a nap. PASSED $5.00 OF COUNTERFEIT paid $10.00 to get it back again. Frank Farington is in Portland jail for passing it, the time you went. He then was nabbed(?), has not been back. He said that IF HIS FRIENDS AT LOWELL DID NOT BAIL HIM OUT HE WOULD EXPOSE THE WHOLE COOT OF THEM. Several has been very nervous: Ganage, Rod Eastman, Picard, Hen(?) Hutchins (this is the reports.)
HASTING HAS ACCEPTED THE OFFICE OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL FOR WAR. OF THE TWO EVILS HE HAS CHOSEN. HOD [HORACE] DRESSER HAS GONE TO WAR
[a Horace Dresser (apparently not Harriet’s son) enlisted on 10/4/1861 at age 26 years as a Private in "G" Co. 10th Maine Infantry Regiment. He was Mustered Out on 5/8/1863].
SAM GILMAN
[Samuel Gilman enlisted on 1/1/1864 at age 29 as a Private in "C" Co. 12th Maine Infantry Regiment. He died in 1865],
AND STEPHEN MANSON
[Stephen G. Manson enlisted at age 22 on 11/15/1861 as a Private in "E" Co. 12th Maine Infantry. He was discharged for disability on 8/15/1864],
WENT WITH HOD. THEY GOT DRUNK, THEN RUN GUARD. COME OFF HOME AND NOW KEEPS HID.
Old Hannibal Kneelands ran his hand and arm into a thrashing machine last Tuesday. It had to be taken off two inches from the shoulder his left arm. He was drunk. Seth Walker’s store was burnt that week you left. Saved his books and money, that was about all, and Fred Dresser has returned on a visit from Canada. Says that Charles Merrill lives by him, is well and doing well. Tell Mrs. Warren. He is her brother. Tell Tom that his folks are all well. His father and mother spent the day with me Tuesday after you went away.
Albion and Abb went to Boston the next Monday, has not got back yet. I have not seen Josiah W. since you went. John Kim enquires for you, he thinks you know by this time if you are homesick. Tell Tom there has been no Ladys(?) musters since his absence and Porter says that he must not get tight again if he goes to a circus. I have wove my rag carpet and it looks very well and your father has bought him a hat. I am much worried the fore sign of something.
The neighbors are all well. Dean is still living. Our fair is this week. Think some of going one day. Ben Russell buried another child with the diphtheria. There are no other cases. Dr. Town has moved into the Loft(?) Hill House. Capt Gordon bought it for Town before he left. Jim drove him out of his house, having a time over it. Mrs. Cutter ordered that portable oven to be taken out. Dan Eastman took it out and carried it off. Hutchins is SCRATCHING HIS ASS NICELY. Trouble all around.
I must close for Uncle Nate is coming. Be a good boy, be steady and you will prosper. You must expect dark days and lonesome hours. But keep your head clear and you keep the right road to prosperity. You know the anxiety of your parents is more than can be penned or expressed. You are far from us, but not forgotten. The children speak of you often, send lots of love to you and Tom. Write all the particulars about your work, if you are contented it will be gratifying to us. Give my love to Mrs. Warren. Tell her that her folks are well as far as I know. I shall watch the office in due time for a letter. Be faithful and steady my dear, son and God will bless you.
From your mother,
Harriet”





LETTER #2)--20 April 1862, Harriet Dresser writes from Lovell, Maine to her son Horace Dresser. Two page letter 7.75 x 9.50” written in light ink on white paper. Fold lines, otherwise good condition. Stamped cover with “bull’s-eye” cancellation, circular “Lovell Me” postmark, and addressed to Mr. Horace Dresser, Armagh, PA. Envelope is opened along the left side.
MUCH local news about people from the Lovell Maine area with colorful description, including “Galloping(?) Ann Barnard is here. Albion has got his depression(?). His gold watch is missing again. When he went to Boston he met her with a lovely charm, and the gold watch was presented again, and farewell Miss(?) Ann Mr(?) watch and all is lost. Poor Albion now says God damn her whole soul.”
About the raging Civil War, Harriet, a staunch Democrat opposing the war and the abolitionist movement, writes to Horace:
“ Tell Tom he is a greedy man to keep such good times with him for I cannot hear no where else that the times are good. And as for rebellion ceasing God only knows when that will be but fear that we shall have time to offer more than one prayer for peace before we have peace. Andrew Woodbury‘s oldest son Lewis is reported KILLED IN THE LAST BATTLE. [He] enlisted in a Missouri Regiment. They are feeling very bad, MOTHER AND SISTER ARE SICK ABED WITH THE NEWS. Their son was a little dearer to them than a n_____. They now feel the distinction. But WE DEMOCRATIC WOMEN THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE.”





LETTER #3)--6 July 1862, Harriet Dresser writes from Lovell, Maine to her son Horace Dresser. Seven page letter 4.5 x 7.5” written in quite legible ink on lined white paper. Good condition. Stamped cover with “bull’s-eye” cancellation, circular “Lovell Me” postmark, and addressed to Mr. Horace Dresser, Armagh, Ind. Co. Penn. Envelope is opened along the left side.
Harriet begins her letter to Horace by bemoaning all the drinking in town over the 4th of July holiday. She comments strongly against alcohol: “I looked from my window this morning and saw a Father and Mother sad with grief as Dr. Alcohol has took a perfect seat in their family. When I look at your acquaintances here and see how they have changed since you left here, I thank God that you are from them…We have a hard skunk hole [drinking establishment in town]…and I wish that lightning would consume it if young men cannot go to a circle without taking a tumbler full of rum to start upon. I think there ought to be a stop some how. It causes Mothers’ hearts to weep.”
Much more local news about marriage, travel, sickness & death, such as: “Mr. John Bassett is dead. Came from Minnesota some four weeks ago, died with consumption. Buried under the Freemason order. They marched with their white apron as mourners. It look sad.”
Harriet rejoices that her family is not yet caught up in the ongoing Civil War and writes with sarcasm about the length of the war and the cause of abolition: “Give my love to Tom, tell him that rebellion has ceased [Harriet enjoys addressing her sarcastic comments to Horace’s friend Tom, who apparently has Republican Party sentiments that clash with Harriet’s strongly Democratic Party, anti-war sentiments]. War has closed up; our dear sons are no longer suffering, fighting, and dying for to liberate the slaves. Our sons has no large tax to pay to support those colored ones that are now equal to the whites and superior in respect. BLESSED GOOD TIMES, HEAVEN ON EARTH, AND REPUBLICANISM A GOD, cheer these days as they pass with that which it deserves..”
At the end of the letter Harriet lists friends and neighbors who went to Pikes(?) to celebrate the Fourth of July and those who went to the nearby town of Albany “to the Basin.” [The "Albany Basins" consist of deep cavities worn by the current of the Crooked River. One of these basins is at least 70 feet deep]. Some of the local Lovell people Harriet mentions include: “Nelly Ganage, Henry Hutchin, Maranda Dresser, Charles Lock, Frank Lock, Lucy Eastman, Dan Town, May Hason, A. Hatch, E.H. Dresser, John Bemis, Abb Heald, John Kimball, Austin Bemis, James Chandler, E.H. Farington, Riley Farington, Abb Farinton, Randall Dresser, James Dresser, Tom Dresser, Phoebe Bright, Aurell Gordon, Ira Gordon, and several others mentioned by name.





LETTER #4)--2 December 1862(?), Harriet Dresser writes from Lovell, Maine to “My Dear Son” [Horace Dresser]. Three page letter 5 x 8” written in quite legible ink on lined white paper. Good condition with no envelope present.
Harriet is quite disappointed that she has not had a letter from her son in a long time: “It is hard to keep from crying. Do let me know how you are. How is your thumb? Do be careful and take good care of yourself. I think of you oftener than you imagine. How is Tom? How glad I should be to see you both.”
Harriet reports various items of news to Horace, such as: “Your father is fat as butter. He has not smoked since the first of Oct. and it makes him fat. Sullivan Abbott is dead. He had a crazy spell. They meant to give him laudanum and made the mistake, gave him Hartshorn. It killed him in a short time.”
Finally, Harriet directs more sarcasm toward Horace’s friend Tom: “Tell Tom his Republican party is rather low. They feel worse than though they had been chased with the pudding stick by a good smart Democrat woman.”





LETTER #5)--25 December 1862, Harriet Dresser writes from Lovell, Maine to her son Horace Dresser. Two page letter 7.5 x 9.5” written in legible ink on white paper. Good condition with Stamped envelope addressed to Horace Dresser, Esq., Verona, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Envelope is opened along the right side.
Harriet scolds Horace for wrestling and hurting his ankle. She tells him much local news. She urgently writes to him: “I am thankful that you are not in the army. OH MY GOD DON’T YOU NEVER GO. If you are in danger of another DRAFT do take your duds and start for home. TO SEE THE MOTHERS HERE THAT HAVE BOYS THAT ARE SUFFERING, and poor Laura. SYLVESTER EASTMAN IS SHOT DEAD IN THIS LAST BATTLE [Sylvester M. Eastman from Lovell ME; enlisted on 8/14/1862 at 20 years old as a Private in "D" Co. 16th Maine Infantry Regiment. He was Killed on 12/13/1862 at Fredericksburg, VA], and how many more we have not got news. HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE! I feel that it is HONOR TO KEEP FREE FROM WAR. Let your Republicans preach that better times are coming. OH WHAT TIMES OF GRIEF! The 23rd Regiment are ordered to the battlefield; this regiment James (?), Andrew Quimby, and lots of our good boys are in. MUST THEY BE SHOT? Can we believe it? Just as likely to as poor Sylvester. I expect that Laura will be awful crazy.”
Harriet finishes her letter with a report that: “Old Flora is pregnant. The colt is a beauty. Two cows, one is good for milk, the other is dry. Two steers, twelve hens, one rooster, and a small pig. Two cats complete the tabernacle. Amen.”





LETTER #6)--1 March 1863, Horace Dresser’s sibling E.H. [probably his 16 year-old sister Esther Dresser] writes a letter to “Brother,” and then Harriet Dresser adds a letter to her son. Two letters on a total of four pages 7.5 x 10” written in legible ink on white paper. Good condition with no envelope present.
-E.H. writes much news and gossip about the area, including that “It is very sickly around this winter with the throat distemper and scarlet fever.” Concerning the war, E.H. expresses strong anti-war sentiments and warns Horace that: “OH MY GOD, THE CALL FOR MORE MEN IS NOW FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND. What do you think of it? I expect that that will take every man and boy that is on the face of the earth. But Hod, the folks want me to write to you to have you come home, for if you stay there that you will surely have to go, and if you come home that they will pay the bill before you go…and you be sure and come, because if you do not you will have to go to war and I should rather that you would COME HOME AND DIE ON YOUR OWN DOORSTEP THAN TO GO OUT SOUTH AND BE SHOT DOWN LIKE DOGS.
Only think of it, HOW HORRIBLE IT IS. I should think that the Republicans and Abolitions would get their eyes open and see their mismanagements, and see that they was not fighting for the country but for the n_____! Our climate is changing very much in the South. The weather is growing colder and in the North it is warmer. The n______ are coming North to live and the Northern people are going South. We have got a old n_____ in the place. Mr. Gibbs’ son has come home from the South with his old nig. She is about forty-five years old.”
-Harriet adds her sentiments about the war to the letter: “EH wants me to write you a word or two but [I] hardly know what to say. I am feeling uneasy on account of the war. What is best for the men to do God only knows. CANADA WILL BE THE RESORT FOR MANY and I am glad to have them send, for SUCH UNGODLY WAR NEVER READ OF. E.H. is bound that you shall not go, thinks IF YOU COME HOME MOTHER CAN PROTECT YOU.” Harriet also infoms Horace of marriages, deaths, and much sickness, including diphtheria in the Lovell area.





LETTER #7)--7 June 1863, Harriet Dresser writes from Lovell, Maine to her son Horace Dresser. Four page letter 4.5 x 7” written in legible ink on white paper. Good condition. Stamped cover with circular “Lovell Me” postmark, and addressed to Mr. Horace Dresser, Armagh, Indiana County. Penn. Envelope is opened along the right side.
Harriet complains to Horace that: “I am all alone, no living being but mice and flies. How I wish you could step in one moment and say a word. It is a lonesome house. Your father is gone all of the time: [home] only when he is eating and sleeping. My company is gone and I feel it.”
Harriet remains bitter about the draft: “ Our town talks of voting to give every drafted man $3.00 to pay for his liberty. A n_____ pays nothing nor is drafted. If he can be coaxed to volunteer he is mighty Patriotic. God only knows my feelings and I am not alone as to my feelings. The season is good, every tree is blossomed full…Corn is looking decent. Every thing looks prosperous that is provided by the God of Heaven. Man is destroying man.”

.



1 August 1863, TWO separate letters sent in the same envelope as follows:

LETTER #8)--Harriet Dresser writes from Lovell, Maine to her son Horace Dresser. Four page letter 5 x 8” written in legible ink on white paper. Good condition. Stamped cover addressed to Horace Dresser, Armagh, Ind. Co.. Penn. Envelope is opened along the right side.
Harriet writes eloquently of her happiness to learn that Horace has still avoided the draft, and then of her bitterness against the raging Civil War: “My pen cannot dedicate the joy, that your last letter enfolded to me its news. Horace, perhaps I am wicked. But God only can tell my anxiety for your escape from this UNGODLY, UNHOLY, AND DAMNABLE WAR! But I feel bad for those that are drafted and pity their parents. But it is not to me like having one of my dear sons DRAGGED TO THE BATTLEFIELD TO BE SLAIN LIKE BEASTS, to liberate a n_____.
I pity poor Albert. His mother is almost crazy she is feeling so bad, and Tom too [Horace’s friend Tom, who Harriet has been chiding in all the letters for his Republican Party sentiment, has apparently been drafted]. How does he [Tom] like [the war]? Ask him [does] he think this is a n______ war now or is it a Democratic hobby? I fear that he will be in more danger (if he goes) than he was when he was threatened by clothes sticks over his head by his old Aunt. HE IS JUST RECEIVING HIS PAY FOR HIS VOTE THAT HE LENT OLD ABE. I expect that John wrote you who was drafted here if he did not I will tell you in my next. From Andover we hear that Frank Dresser is drafted. If I have time I will put in a list of your acquaintances that is drafted.”
On a lighter note Harriet writes about her displeasure on seeing Horace’s photographic portrait he must have recently sent her: “I saw your picture, it made me feel sad. You looked not as I wanted to see you. Your eyes was out of tune, you looked poor, your hat was on, beside a nasty pigtail between your thumb and finger. You may think I am finding fault: not so. You have been from me almost two years and you must allow me to view your picture close and I did without naming your “muffstash” and “doe-tea.” [mustache and goatee]. ”
Harriet has been suffering with: “that mortal disease Diphtheria. It is sweeping its mortal way amongst us. Oh how mortal! A large number are now sick; more at Fryeburg…Caleb and Annette Ursula’s children are dead, two of Samuel Farington’s children are dead, and one of Bliss Charles and great number are very sick, not expected to live. There was not one of our family had it but myself. If they should I should expect them not to live for it is awful.”
In other news: “ Father has changed horses. Old Flora has gone to Denmark and we have Beauregard, a splendid bay. Black Maine short tail, small ears, cuts hay fast, age somewhere between fourteen and twenty, and a regular roader. Suits the family better than old Flora (except mother.) Father has been fixing the house. We are all glad, and it is nice. Put on a new roof framed first ten feet on the backside for bedrooms and it makes it large and nice. The roof is steep, well boarded and shingled. We have persuaded your father to have a large window on the end and front side. E.H. give six dollars to buy the glass. Ebb was for having them; it will make the house look so much better, and it will be so pleasant… It has been very wet, hard for haying. Crops look well. Hay is rather better than last year. Our cucumbers look nice. Blueberries are plenty on the plains. Beauregard has learned the way blueberrying.”

LETTER #9)--The second (and final) letter is written from EH Dresser to her brother Horace. It is a two page letter 5 x 7” written in legible ink on a half-sheet of white paper. Good condition, and apparently sent in the same envelope as above.
EH also comments about the war and the draft: “Where is Albert- is he going to war? I am sorry to say that his mother is crazy, but it is so. She was taken last week. She is very bad by spells. She says that she has been to Pennsylvania and been in sixteen battles…I forgot to tell you that Ren was drafted. I do not know where he is now, but he was in Summerville, Massachusetts the last we heard from him.”

HORACE DRESSER, RECIPIENT of these nine letters from his mother Harriet and his sister EH, apparently DIED JUST 5 MONTHS LATER--on 13 January 1864--in Johnstown, PA, AGE 22 YEARS.





This Maine family apparently consisted of:

JOSEPH BENTON DRESSER; born 6 September 1813, in Lovell; Oxford County, Maine, died 11 October 1893, in Lovell; buried with wife at No. 4 Cemetery, Lovell; married (int.), 19 September 1838, in Lovell,
HARRIET NEVERS CHARLES [the WRITER of most of these letters], who was born 1 November 1817, and died 31 October 1888.
Joseph was a blacksmith and resided in Lovell. They had seven children:
(a) HORACE DRESSER [the RECIPIENT of all nine letters], b. 17 July 1841; d. 13 Jan. 1864, in Johnstown, PA (No. 4 Cem., Lovell).
(b) WHIPPLE CHARLES DRESSER, b. 31 Jan. 1843; d. 9 Oct. 1848.
(c) EBENEZER WEEKS DRESSER, b. 17 July 1844; d. 27 Aug. 1909.
(d) ESTHER AURETTE DRESSER [probable writer of two of these letters], b. 16 Dec. 1846; d. 1926, in Lovell; m., 28 May 1868, in Fryeburg, John B. Kimball (1839-1926).
(e) WHIPPLE CHARLES DRESSER (2nd), b. 14 Nov. 1848, in Lovell; d. 26 March 1921, in Helena, Montana; m. Lottie ___.
(f) JOSEPH BENTON DRESSER, JR., b. 4 Dec. 1850; d. in Dec. 1911; m. Fannie L. Hersey (1850-1938) of Woodfords, ME; resided in Portland and later Lovell.
(g) ABBY MARIAH DRESSER, b. 18 Feb. 1852; d. 21 May 1920, in Helena, Montana; m(1), 11 Jan. 1879, Dr. Frank R. Mitchell; m(2), Pierce Nagle; resided in Los Angeles, CA.

Price= $795.00


Please use BACK BUTTON ON BROWSER to return to main list

ORDERING INFORMATION

BACK TO HISTORY BROKER HOMEPAGE