The following letter was written by Pvt. Rutherford “Drummond” Richardson (1843-1862) of Co. B (“the Castine Light Infantry”), 2nd Maine Infantry. He enlisted on 28 May 1861 and served his company faithfully until he was cut down in the fighting at Malvern Hill on 1 July 1862 and died of his wounds at the regimental hospital on 7 July 1862. Drummond was the son of James Richardson (1808-1889) and Sybil H. Burton (1813-1910) of Eddington, Penobscot county, Maine.

This letter was penned in mid-August, 1861, approximately a month after the Battle of Bull Run in which the regiment was heavily engaged. Those interested in a detailed account of the battle itself might enjoy reading a letter by Pvt. Robert Alonzo Friend to his brother Will, dated 1 August 1861. He served with Drummond in Co. B. It can be found transcribed on my friend Harry Smeltzer’s “Bull Runnings” website.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

[Camp on Arlington Heights, Virginia]
[Mid-August 1861]

Dear Mother,

I duly rec’d your last kind letter. I was very thankful to hear that you were all well and doing well. I am as well as usual with the exception of a cold, as are the rest of the Eddington Boys as far as I know except Levi Lancaster who it is reported is dead. Doctor [W. H.] Allen has returned from captivity and says he lived about two weeks after the battle. ¹

We had a rebellion in the regiment yesterday and 66 men denied duty and were escorted by U.S. Cavalry to the Island where they were sentenced to go to the Isle of Tortugas, Gulf of Mexico, there to perform hard labor till the term of their enlistment, or till they will take arms in defense of the country. And their pay is stopped from this time hence forth. ²

I have some faint hopes of seeing you all in the course of a month though it is very uncertain. Col. [Charles Davis] Jameson has resigned and Lt. Col. [Charles W.] Roberts is in command at present. I can think of nothing that will interest you further more than you can see in the papers. Please tell Martha I send my best respects to herself and family. Tell George he may thank his stars he is so well off. He don’t know what hard times are. He has not learned to eat hard bread and cold water yet and I hope he never will be brought to it.

I will further say I did my best to save Levi after he was wounded. I got him as far as the Hospital and could get him no further. He was taken there prisoner. Tell all my friends I am well and wish them the same. I feel very anxious to see you all and hope God will spared our lives, at least, to meet once more around the family hearth stone of a parent’s earthly mansion, not withstanding all the temptations to which a soldier is exposed. I have tried to do my duty. Keep soberness and truth on my side, and the good will of my commanding officers and I have thus far kept up a good name in the regiment.

You must not forget to write often as it does me good to hear from you often and I will write as often as an opportunity presents itself. I must now close by wishing you well and happy and subscribing myself your most obedient and loving son, — R. D. Richardson

To Mr. & Mrs. J. Richardson

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¹ Genealogical records suggest that Levi E. Lancaster (1832-1861) of Co. C, 2nd Maine Infantry, was killed in action on the battlefield at First Bull Run, but this letter informs us that Drummond was able to assist Levi to a field hospital that was later overtaken by Confederates and surgeons and wounded soldiers alike were taken prisoners. Dr. W. H. Allen of the 2nd Maine Infantry was also captured and reported that Levi lived two weeks before he died. Levi was married in 1856 to Hannah Ellen Shepherd (1833-1908) and the couple ha one daughter, Annie (b. 1857).

² Some of the men became discontented three months after leaving the state from seeing three months’ men from other states returning home. Sixty-six claimed their time had expired, became insubordinate, and were sentenced to Tortugas; but this sentence was later commuted to a transfer to the 2nd N. Y., where they served about a year and then returned and served faithfully with the regiment for the remainder of the term.