Description

Manuscript letter with mailing envelope, sent by Private Oliver F. Jepson of the 1 st New Hampshire Heavy Artillery to Warren Goodwin of Amesbury, Massachusetts, postmarked Washington, D.C., March 21, 1865. The letter is headed Fort Reno, Washington, D.C., March 19, 1865, and begins Friend Warren. Oliver starts the letter by saying he is in good health and moves on to mention that he is on guard. He talks about the folks back home in the Valley, asks about the shoe business, and mentions the possibility of reenlisting. Oliver has only six months more to serve and likes the idea of a $900 enlistment bonus. He mentions that a lot of deserters have been coming into the city: thay tell some hard storyes, thay are drest shabby Enough, their haint two dress alike. Oliver tells Warren that Mobile would soon fall and the Rebels are discouraged. He’s in no rush to see the war end—he’s been having some good times and is getting plenty to eat. The farmers down there were already planting crops, and the grass had turned green. Oliver closes the letter with Good Night, give my Respects to the folks, Oliver F. Jepson, 1 st Regt., Co. L, N.H. Hy. Artillery, Washington, D.C. Oliver Francis Jepson (1841-1928) was a shoemaker and long term resident of Lynn, Massachusetts. Although his obituary (posted on Find-A-Grave) says he was in several major engagements during the war, Frank (as he was known in later years) never was in a battle. He returned to Lynn after his discharge, worked for years as a caterer there, and was a member of Landers Post, G.A.R. A picture of him late in life is posted on his F-A-G page. The letter and envelope are in good to very good condition. The envelope, neatly cut open at the right end, shows the wear and soiling expected for a mailed cover. The letter has bold and legible ink writing with only some light soiling. A nice Civil War letter from a Washington DC fort!