July 1862 Civil War Letter, Sgt Garland Mead, 34th New York Killed at Antietam

  
An interesting July 1862 letter written from Harrisons Landing on the James River while the Army of the Potomac licked its wounds following the Seven Days battles. It was written by Sergeant Garland W. Mead of the 34th New York , a regiment of the 2nd Corps.

Writing to his brother, Mead described a review of the corps conducted by General George B. McClellan and General Edwin V. After the mud and misery of the previous weeks of fighting, Mead was glad to draw new uniforms and tents. He described a situation where an onlooker believed the 34th must be a fresh regiment that had just landed in Virginia.

Having a little spare time to myself this morning, Ill write you a few lines just to let you know how thing & matters are here on the Peninsula. The troops are getting in the best of order. Gen Sumner reviewed his Corp de Armee yesterday. Twas a sight I wish you could have seen. The men are in good condition and have been drawing new clothing, and they dont look like the same army they did after the retreat.

As we were coming from review yesterday some outsiders asked what regiment? We told him & he then wanted to know if we were new troops.

Only 16 months old we told him. The review was on an open field close by the James River.

Gen McClellan was also present. We were rather destitute of tents till yesterday when we got tents same as we had last summer. 4 in a tent seems quite natural to get into a tent again.

We have had shelter tents before on the Peninsula. About as much room in them as in a good sized chicken coop, but now I can stand up in our house and breathe freely. How does enlisting go on in Laursboro? It seems to me that the old town might turn out that number at once without any fuss at all. There is some talk here of there being need of drafting, but I cant believe but that Old Bay State will furnish her quota at once and without resort to draft. Have you received my letter of the 14th Inst. If you have sent a box before this reaches you write and let me know so that I can look out for it at the Landing and if have not and send it after you get this direct as before, except add in care of Col. Be sure and write anyway and let me know how you get along with your work this summer and who has enlisted this hitch and all the other news that is afloat. Tell Jim if he enlists to make up his mind to rough it for awhile. Tis a hard matter to get stamps here and if youll send me some Ill be much obliged I have been off duty against for about a week but getting better & began work again yesterday. My appetite is good but I have the diarrhea so that it keeps me down poor and weak all the time. Garland was eighteen years old when he enlisted as a private in the 34th in May 1861. He would be killed less than two months later at Antietam. The letter was written on all four pages of stationery sheet measuring about 5 1/4 x 8 1/4. It is in excellent condition with very light toning and some minor foxing. Please see my other items for more interesting Civil War letters, documents, and images. The item "July 1862 Civil War Letter, Sgt Garland Mead, 34th New York Killed at Antietam" is in sale since Friday, January 25, 2019.

This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\Civil War (1861-65)\Original Period Items\Correspondence, Mail". The seller is "iron-horse-sales" and is located in Champaign, Illinois.

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