This letter was written by Isaac S. Starbird (1840-1911) of Freeman, Franklin county, Maine. When he was 21, Isaac enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Co. L, 1st Maine Cavalry. He was mustered in as a private and mustered out three years later as a corporal on 1 November 1864. He was wounded at Charles City, Virginia on 28 July 1864 where he received a gunshot wound to the right knee but not so disabled that he could not return to his occupation as a sawyer in Lewiston, Maine.

The 1st Maine Cavalry had high standards for its recruits and the quality of its mounts. Recruiters were to enlist “none but sound, able-bodied men in all respects, between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years of correct morals and temperate habits, active, intelligent, vigorous, and hardy, weighing not less than one hundred and twenty-five or more than one hundred and sixty pounds” While the average United States Infantryman was 26 and 5′ 8.25″ tall and 155 pounds, the average United States Cavalryman was the same age but slightly shorter at 5′ 7″ and lighter at 145 pounds). It encamped at Augusta at the State Fairground, renamed Camp Penobscot, where recruits initially learned military discipline and drill. Horses would arrive in December. It is unclear whether the 1st Maine received either the 1854 cavalry shell jacket or 1857 sack coat or both. The army did issue all ranks the same standard sky-blue double-breasted winter overcoat with attached cape and a rubberized poncho for rainwear. They also received the special sky-blue wool cavalry trousers with the reinforcing double layer in the seat and inside leg due to the expected extended time in the saddle.

Isaac was married to Mary Elizabeth Clark (1848-1917) in November 1866.

[Note: This letter is from the private collection of Molly MacDufus and was transcribed and published in Spared & Shared by express consent.]

Transcription

Augusta [Maine]
October 13, 1861

Friend Amanda,

It is now Sabbath morn and I will seat myself for a few moments to inform you of my good health and likewise my camp life. We arrived here one week ago yesterday in good spirits and health. We have pitched our tents of which I will give you a description. Our tents are large enough for twelve to sleep in by stowing close together. Our tents are round with center pole in the center. We all lay our heads to the outside of the tent with our feet to the center pole. We lay as close as a passel of pigs and bear a slight resemblance of them.

Our living is good enough although a little different from what I have [been] accustomed to eating. Why I gave you the description of our fare—I supposed you would have a curiosity to know how a soldier fared.

We only have to drill three or four hours a day at present and we have the rest of the time to ourselves. We can have any kind of curiosity that we wish here. Twenty of us bought a fiddle and we have dancing any time that we like to. I tell you, we have some high times here.

There is about 800 men on the ground now at the present time. We shall stay here four or five weeks, I expect, and then we expect to go to Washington instead of New York. We expect to go on horseback there all the way. If we do, we shall have a tall time on the road. We have not got our uniforms yet. We expect them soon.

I have no news to write so I will close by wishing good health and prosperity, Write soon. This is from your friend and best wisher, — Isaac S. Starbird

Please direct to Augusta, Maine