The lack of detail conveyed in this letter will forever make it impossible to know the author’s identity as anything other than “Henry” but we can make a few assumptions. Most likely he was a late war draftee who opted to enlist in the US Navy rather than be taken into the infantry where he would have no control over his assignment or duties. Though life at sea was potentially hazardous, the horrors of the battlefield probably seemed more frightening to this young man. The amount of the money he sent home informs us that he received a bounty for his enlistment. He was also most likely still on a “receiving ship” in Boston, Philadelphia, or New York where he was being drilled in his duties as a “landsman” and was not yet assigned to his permanent ship.

What interested me the most about this letter was the rare ink impression of a sailing ship on the letterhead. I have not seen it before on mass-printed stationery and the crudeness of the stamp and the smudges of ink with discernible fingerprints in the margins leaves me wondering if it was not a user applied stamp—particularly since there is no logo, caption, or printer’s mark combined with the fact that it was printed in only one ink color.

Transcription

April the 1st 1865

I now take my pen in hand to let you know that I am well and hope that these few lines will find you the same. I drawed my money yesterday and expressed 165 of it today and if you will go to the office and get it and my clothes, I will make it right with you—and I expressed two watches too.

I suppose you will want to know how I like the Navy. Well, I will tell you. As far as work is concerned, I like it, but for choice, I had rather have land forces. But one thing, they can’t force me into battle.

I would like to hear from you but don’t write until I get on my own boat. Give my best respects to all. Yours respectfully. From Henry

To pa and ma