The following letter was written by Silas A. Coolidge, a 20 year-old shoemaker from Marlborough, Massachusetts, who enlisted as a private in Co. F, 13th Massachusetts Infantry on 29 June 1861. He was discharged for disability on 11 October 1862 but later served in the 59th Massachusetts Infantry. He did not survive the war. He died of disease in Washington D. C. in July 1864.

Silas was the son of Rufus Coolidge (1813-1889) and Laura Ann Hapgood (1814-1895) to whom he probably sent this letter.

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

Ft. Independence, Boston

June 30th 1861

We arrived here yesterday at 2 o’clock. It is the most pleasant place I ever was in. When we landed, we were escorted into the fort by the Fourth Battalion of Rifles. Col. [Samuel H.] Leonard met us at the Common and came down with us. There were five companies came down with us. We have camped on the south side of the fort in tents. We each have a straw bed and blanket. I had a good night’s sleep last night. The old battalion here is the best drilled in the New England States. They say after we have been here three weeks, this will be the best regiment in this country.

Col. Leonard is a good but strict officer. They have no liquors to drink. If a man gets the worse for it, he is punished severely. There is the best set of boys here I ever saw. There are about 15 ares of land on this island. The wall to the fort is about 20 feet high and from six to fifteen thick of nice stone. The fort covers about four acres inside the wall. There is a parade ground of over two acres. On the wall there are forty great cannon and room for 80 more.

Beefs come down in the Westboro Company. There is a good cool breeze most of the time. They allow visitors on Wednesday & Sundays only. The island is crowded with visitors today. The Major [Jacob Parker Gould] inspected our guns this morning and said if there was an insurrection in Boston, he would throw them away and fight with his fists.

The Colonel asked us to go to meeting this afternoon. I wish I had some books to read for we loaf about here most of the time. We each have a knife, fork, spoon, tin plate, and tin mug. Our living [food] is better than I expected. I should like to have you come out here. If anybody comes to Boston from that way, tell them to come out here. I borrowed this paper and wrote on the bottom of my plate. When you write, direct to Fort Independence, Co. F.

Tell Lucy where to direct & to write and let me know if she comes out here. — S. A. Coolidge