This letter was written by Lloyd Garrison Gale (1838-1915), the son of Benjamin Batchelder Gale (1802-1887) and Sarah (“Sally”) Tibbetts (1803-1843). Lloyd was married to Mary Elizabeth Marston (1842-1920) on 13 August 1861 at Chester, Rockingham, New Hampshire.
Lloyd served a relatively short stint in the U.S. Regulars in 1857 when he was only 19.
Lloyd enlisted in Co. K, 3rd New Hampshire Infantry on 24 August 1861. He was wounded on 13 May 1864 at Drewry’s Bluff shortly after being promoted to corporal and presumably taken to Hammond General Hospital at Point Lookout to convalesce. We learn from the letter that he eventually was assigned duty as a nurse at Hammond G. H. before mustering out with the regiment on 8 November 1864. Lloyd was a carpenter by trade which enabled him to get special details while in the service at Hilton Head.
TRANSCRIPTION
Hammond General Hospital
Point Lookout, Maryland
July 22nd 1864
Dear Nephew,
I received your kind letter yesterday of the 17th and was pleased to hear from you. I am now at work in the hospital nursing and I am having an easy time. I go a fishing most every day and I catch lots of them.
There was a squad of rebel prisoners came in here this morning. They were captured in Maryland. There is about fifteen thousand of reb prisoners here on this point. They are kept in a large pen and are strongly guarded.
Will they have to draft again in Salisbury? I see that the President has called for more men. I shall be at home in about a month and then I am coming down to Salisbury to see you all.
From your uncle, — Loyd
Dear Sister,
I was glad to receive a few lines from you yesterday for I have not heard from you before for a long time. I have heard from Father often but he never writes whether you are dead or alive.
You wanted to know how they knew that Stickney was wounded and taken prisoner. They do not know. All they know is that he is missing. He may have been killed for there was a great many killed that day and the rebs holding the battle ground so they buried our dead and he may have been captured without being hurt. If he is alive, we shall hear from him when this campaign is over.
It is awful warm today down here. I shall be glad when my time is out and I get home. I will close hoping this will find you all well.
From your brother, — L. G. Gale
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