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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC02016.080 |
| From Archive Folder | Collection of Heber Painter, I company, 58th regiment, Pennsylvania, infantry |
| Title | Heber Painter to sister Anna describing Richmond, criticizing Jefferson Davis for burning the city, hungry children and celebrations over Lee's surrender |
| Date | 11 April 1865 |
| Author | Painter, Heber (1841-1900) |
| Recipient | Painter, Anna |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Written two days after Lee's surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House. Describes the scene in Richmond a week after its fall. Criticizes Jefferson Davis' for fleeing after he called for the burning of Richmond. Writes that there were half starved children and women in Richmond whose food supplies had been cut off. Reports that the men in blue gave their food to begging children; an act which later reassured Richmonders that "they were among friends instead of enemies." Painter and his company had expected to encounter another struggle for the capitol after leaving Signal Hill, but instead found an abandoned Confederate camp. Describes more celebrating over the capture of Richmond and Lee's surrender. |
| Subjects | Soldier's Letter Military History Civil War Union Forces Union Soldier's Letter Confederate States of America Confederate General or Leader Poverty Diet and Nutrition Children and Family Women's History Charity and Philanthropy Appomattox Surrender |
| People | Painter, Heber (1841-1900) Painter, Anna (fl. 1840-1870) |
| Place written | Richmond, Virginia |
| Theme | The American Civil War; Children & Family |
| Sub-collection | Papers and Images of the American Civil War |
| Additional Information | Before joining the service, Painter was a trained printer from Danville, Pennsylvania. He was mustered as a private into F Company of the 58th Pennsylvania infantry on 8 October 1861 and transferred to I Company on 1 March 1862. While in I Company, he was promoted to Sergeant and eventually mustered out on 21 January 1866 as First Lieutenant. Painter also held a post as Quartermaster's clerk, and performed freedman duties shortly after the war ended. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Civil War, Reconstruction and the Modern Era: 1860-1945 |
| Civil War: Recipient Relationship | Sister |
| Civil War: Theater of War | Main Eastern Theater |
| Civil War: Unit | 58th Pennsylvania Infantry |