This brief letter was written by George Storrs Ladd (1847-1912), the son of Alexis Ladd (1804-1888) and Henrietta Rice (1809-1854) of Providence, Rhode Island. George was employed as a “folder of cloth” when he enlisted in the US Signal Corps in April 1864. He served until 17 August 1865.
George wrote the letter to his sister, Frances (“Fannie”) Newell (Ladd) Walford (1843-1918) who married Alexander Walford, Jr. (1837-1892) on 1 October 1863 and resided in Providence where Alexander was employed as a painter.
“Please make them out [of] white cloth, hem the sides, and put a square of red cloth in the centre of the white and please send it in a letter to me. Make two of them. I want to wear them on my hat for a badge.”
T R A N S C R I P T I O N
Addressed to Mrs. Alexander Walford, No. 39 Aborn St., Providence, Rhode Island[Now site of Durk’s Bar-B-Q]
Fannie,
Please make me these two flags like the picture to wear on my cap. Please make them out [of] white cloth, hem the sides, and put a square of red cloth in the centre of the white and please send it in a letter to me. Make two of them. I want to wear them on my hat for a badge.
Fannie, be sure and send them if you can make them. Flags like this. This is the part that I want you to make.
Fannie, I did not have room in the letter to ask you to send me something to read—some newspapers—for I have a great many hours that I can be reading. Send me some comick [comic] papers and I will be very much oblige[d].
— George S. Ladd, Esq.
Signal Corps, USA In the Field. Write soon.
Direct [to] George S. Ladd, Signal Corps, USA, Headquarters 10th Army Corps. In care of Capt. [Gustavus Sullivan] Dana, Signal Officer
Spared & Shared 23 