Description:

Civil War
"Head Quarters", September 23, 1864
Union Soldier's Lengthy ALS to Mother: "The only way to a...speedy peace, is to elect Abraham Lincoln...he is the man..."
ALS

Civil War. Autograph Letter Signed, "G. Doughty," 6pp, on the rectos and versos of one inner sheet and one bifold sheet of blind-embossed stationery, 5" x 8", Head Quarters, 3rd Division, 2nd A.C., September 23, 1864. Expected folds and creases. Dampstaining, most of which appears along central vertical fold. Slight fading to text, not affecting legibility. In very good condition.

In full: "Dear Mother / I gladly received a letter from Father last night and one from Royal the night before. There is nothing pleases me more than to get letters from my folds and friends often. I don't have much time to write letters during a campaign, but now if we are likely to stop here any time, I must get some more correspondents, so to get letters oftiner. I like to get a good letter every time the mails comes in. We are having pretty easy times here now and I like as well as can be expected, I will admit that I am not quite as well contented here, as I should be with the Company, but the longer I stay, and the better I get acquainted, the better I like. We have to keep looking very neat here, but that will not hurt any may to keep clean; and we have plenty of time to keep clean. It will probably cost me a little more for clothing than it would with the company. But my clothing bill is not very heavy, not near as heavy as some, it only cost me thirty seven dollars for government clothing last year, and some of the boys it cost as high as sixty, and they had as much or more from home that I did too, so you see that I am not very hard on clothing in the Army.

Father said that he got beat on the Governor's election. I like to agree with my Parents, but I am glad that he got beat. Who can ask more of a man than Gov. Coney [sic] done the past year, only see what he has done for the soldiers. As soon as the Spring campaign opened he came on to Washington and made arrangements for all the wounded Maine soldiers to be sent home, where they could be taken care of. Would not you and Father have thanked Gov. Coney for that, had your son been wounded on the campaign. It is what no other Main Governor has ever done. But itis what Gov. Curtin of Pa. and every other truly patriotic Governor has done, why shouldn't we soldiers think a great deal of Gov. Coney. And itis just the same with the President. The only way to a just, permanent, and speedy peace, is to elect Abraham Lincoln. He is the man before any other, I believe. I don't like to talk politics because I don't know how. But I do feel anxious to have good old Abe elected. There is nothing in the Army but ruff scuffs, and rowdy's that will vote for McClellan. The people at home say that the soldiers that have fought under him will vote for him. But I can tell them that the good honest sober, sound minded men that fought under him will not vote for him. They say, give us old Abe for the next four years, and I say so too.

But time will tell who will be elected and I trust that it will be the best man. I don't want to vote for a man that the Rebels will get up on their works close in front of us and give three cheers for. When they heard that McClellan was nominated they got up on their works all along their line and gave three cheers for him. That shows that the Northern Copperheads or Peace men (as they call themselves) are doing for the Rebellion, they are hurting our cause more than the Rebels themselves, that are in front of us and fighting us. But I have said enough about Political affairs, so I will stop. I think very probably that before you receive this letter you will have sent my things, so I will say nothing about them. I like my shirt - first rate. I hope if I get my Boots that they will suit me, then I shall be pretty well fitted up for a while. I want a vest; but I guess that I can buy one here if we get paid, so I will not trouble you for one. You must all write often. I should like to have those pictures that I have asked for so many times. I have John's and Lois's and I think everything of them. But I should like to have the rest. But I will close for this time. Your affectionate son / G Doughty."

Our letter's author is George W. Doughty (1838-1900), the son of farmer Benjamin Franklin Doughty and Mary Wilson of Cumberland, Maine. His siblings included Royal, Hollis, John, Lois, and Frank; he mentions Royal, John, and Lois in this letter. Doughty enlisted on August 18, 1862 at the age of 24 to serve three years in Company E, 17th Maine Infantry. He mustered out of the service on June 4, 1865.

Samuel Cony (1811-1870) served as the 31st governor of Maine from 1864 to 1867. Originally a Democrat, Cony was nominated by the Maine Republican Party as their candidate for governor and was elected governor by a popular vote in 1863. During his administration, troops and provisions continued to be raised for the American Civil War. Maine sent more than 70,000 men to the front.

In 1864, Pennsylvania's Governor was Andrew Gregg Curtin (1815-1894). He was the 15th governor of Pennsylvania and served during the American Civil War. Known as the "War Governor," Curtin was a determined supporter of President Lincoln's war efforts.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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