The following letter was written by George E. Eastman (1844-1930), the son of Samuel Eastman (1804-1860) and Precepta Richardson (1810-1898) of Topsham, Orange county, Vermont. George enlisted as a private in Co. G, 6th Vermont Infantry in August 1862 and had risen in rank to corporal by the time he was wounded on 5 May 1864 in the Wilderness. He mustered out of the regiment on 19 June 1865 as a sergeant.

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

Camp Danville, Virginia
May 13, 1865
2nd Brigade, 2nd Division, 6th Corps

Friend Emma,

It has been some time since I have written you. But I have written to you since I have received your last. Perhaps you do not care about hearing from me. It is not so on this side. I am always happy to hear from you. “Times” have changed some since I wrote you last. It is not “Camp near Petersburg” now, It is camp all over Virginia a most. But this is not what I was a writing about. I wrote to you just before we broke camp and sent you my picture. Did you ever get it? I have not heard from you since but some of our mail has been thrown away while we were on the last campaign.

I thought I would pen you a few lines to pass off the long hours. Time passes away very slow now I suppose for the reason of expecting to leave this place every day for Washington. We may get home by the 4th [of July] and we may not before my time is out—that is four months and a bit.

There is no news only I heard General Lee had played out and Richmond is taken by our men this time.

Malam and Craig and myself have a tent by ourselves and we just make out to have some good times, live high and sleep in the kitchen. I have no more for the present. Please excuse this short note and write as soon as convenient if you. choose to. All the Topsham boys are well except a bad cold I have myself, but it is some better now.

Please except of this from a friend and well wishes and excuse all blunders. I remain your sincere friend, — George E. Eastman, Sergt. Co. G, 6th Vermont